A matter of size
No bird is really a bully. Bigger birds simply hold sway over smaller birds. But some bigger birds, such as European Starlings and Common Grackles, travel in large flocks that take over feeders. Here’s what you can do to send them packing.

Cage feeders
These feeders are surrounded by a 2 in x 2 in cage. That means small songbirds can get through, but starlings and grackles can’t.

Upside down suet feeders
These feeders make suet available from the bottom, not the sides. You see, woodpeckers can cling upside. European starlings and common grackles cannot.

Finch feeders
These are feeders specially designed with tiny holes that dispense equally tiny seeds to goldfinches. Bully birds ignore these feeders because the meal they provide is too small for them.

Safflower, peanuts in the shell, striped sunflower
The shells on these seeds are too thick for starlings’ long beaks to crack. So, remove the other seed from your feeders for two weeks and replace it with this hard-shelled trio. Once the starlings figure out that they can’t crack them, they’ll move on.
