Bullying in Birds

One of the great joys of having a bird feeder in the yard is getting to watch and listen to graceful little songbirds who stop by for a meal. But these moments of peace are often interrupted by bigger bullying birds intent on taking over the food supply. Take heart, though; ways to prevent bullying and enjoy the songbirds are at hand.

  1. The Biggest Bullies

    • Most backyard birds are foragers and opportunists, but some species survive entirely by finding a food supply and raiding it whenever they can. Blackbirds, such as crows and ravens, grackles, blue jays, starlings, pigeons and house sparrows are typically the worst pests for folks who like to feed songbirds. These birds are attracted to the cheap seed mixes and suet cakes found in most feeders, and they think nothing of chasing away smaller birds, such as finches, cardinals or chickadees.

    Modern Feeders

    • Many modern bird feeders are built to keep out bullies. Some have narrow tubes leading to the food that allow small birds in but are too narrow for birds such as starlings and pigeons to fit into. Others take non-bird plunderers such as squirrels into account and feature hanging domes under which you can put suet cakes. Starlings in particular are reluctant to go under any cover to feed.

    Use a Bully's Size Against Him

    • Bully birds are usually much larger and heavier than the birds they chase away, and you can use this knowledge to thwart bullies at the feeder. Some feeders have weight-sensitive perches that tip away when larger birds land on them. You can also enclose feeders in mesh hardware cloth or chicken wire so that only small birds can fit through and get to the food supply. Or you could pop an empty soda bottle onto the end of a perch so that it rolls freely. Heavier birds will roll off, but lighter birds will not.

    Mirrors

    • If European starlings are the problem, try hanging mirrors at the feeding site. European starlings tend to take over birdhouses built for woodpeckers, wood ducks and owls. Hanging a small mirror on the back wall facing the entryway shows the starling his own reflection and will usually scare him away. Mirrors, however, do not usually bother other species.

    Other Deterrents

    • Even your best efforts at the feeder may lead to seed and suet remains falling to the ground, where bully birds will gladly swarm to get them. Place a garbage can or large bucket below the feeder to catch falling seed. Bullies usually won't fly into the can to get food. Feed selectively also helps. Most bullies don't like safflower or nyjer seeds, but songbirds generally do. Avoid cheap, general wild bird seed mixes and you will draw only songbirds.