How to Get Rid of Grackle Birds

The common grackle is a ubiquitous North American bird that some people love to hate. Unattractive, aggressive and noisy, these birds flock to bird feeders and farm fields with abandon, driving out more desirable songbirds and consuming everything in sight. Although their population has decreased by more than 100 million since World War II, they remain a pest in most areas. Removing them is nearly impossible and usually not legal, but making a backyard undesirable is very simple.

Things You'll Need

  • Striped sunflower seed
  • Nyjer seed
  • Hanging tube feeder
  • Suet basket
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any platform feeders. Grackles prefer this type of bird feeder and will preferentially choose it when looking for food. If removal is not possible, place only striped sunflower seed on the platform feeder. Striped sunflower is not a popular food choice for grackles because of the thick, hard shell, but it is enjoyed by cardinals and small songbirds.

    • 2

      Install hanging tube feeders. This style of feeder is difficult for grackles to land on, especially if the perches are short. Choose a hanging tube feeder with small openings; because of the grackle's large beak, this type of feeder will further discourage them from attempting to extract seed. Striped sunflower or nyjer thistle seed are both good choices for tube feeders.

    • 3

      Install hanging suet cages. Grackles will not perch upside-down to get at suet, but more desirable birds like woodpeckers and nuthatches will readily do so. If the cage sways back and forth slightly, this will further discourage any attempted landings. Choose any suet that fits the cage.

    • 4

      Clean the ground surrounding the feeders. Grackles will congregate at these areas and scavenge for any discarded and opened seed. Vigilant monitoring and maintenance of the ground conditions will limit the number of grackles willing to scavenge.