They tend to live near people and build nests in vents, gutters, garages, attics, and barns. Starlings get indoors through cracks or openings in home exteriors and provoke residents with their loud songs and calls.
You might have an infestation if you hear excessive starling noises on your property. That’s where our team at Critter Control comes in. Our experienced technicians can help you get rid of the problem by humanely removing nuisance birds from your property. So, if you’re dealing with annoying starlings, don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.
Starling Sounds
Listen to Starling Sounds
Common starling sounds range from purrs and screams to warbles and whistles. So, what does a starling sound like? The answer? It depends, given that these feathered creatures can produce a wide range of sounds.
Starling Calls
Starlings produce a variety of calls, using about ten calls to communicate their location and nearby danger. The birds make purring, rattling, screaming, chattering, chirping, and trilling sounds. They are also talented mimics and can copy the calls of about twenty other types of birds.
They may also squawk, although this is more common among young starlings demanding food from their parents. They generally call each other around dawn or dusk, although they can become confused by light pollution and may start chirping during the night.
Starling Songs
Starlings use their songs, whistles, warbles, and whirrs to attract mates. When in groups, the noise they make is extremely loud. Their whistled songs typically last through a minute, while warbled songs can last up to eighty seconds. These whistling tunes are used between male starlings, whereas female starlings use warbling melodies.
Problems With Starling Noises
Starlings are notorious for creating excessive noise, which can become a huge nuisance for property owners. Starling songs and calls may echo for hours at a time, disrupting your day and causing all sorts of racket. This noise pollution can make it difficult to relax, sleep, or even concentrate on tasks.
On top of the undoubtedly annoying cacophony, persistent starling bird sounds can point to a larger problem: a potential infestation in your yard or home. Starlings may take up residence in attics, vents, or eaves. Starling nests in those areas are often accompanied by property damage, droppings, and competition with native bird species. They’re often aggressive toward other birds and frequently chase off or deter other species in the area.
Given the problems they can cause, identifying their trills and calls early on can be an excellent way to recognize and address their presence before they establish a permanent residence.
Starling Control & Exclusion
Preventing and excluding starlings from your property is a must. This way, you can ensure they don’t hang around and become a recurring problem. While you might be tempted to DIY the process, it’s important to work with wildlife professionals, such as those at Critter Control, to implement the most effective prevention and exclusion strategy for your property.
Get Rid of Food Sources
Starlings are highly opportunistic feeders. They love easily accessible food sources that require little to no work, such as trash cans, bird feeders, and open dumpsters. If your property has plenty of food sources like these, you might unintentionally attract large flocks.
So, to keep the starlings at bay, keep your home and yard clean. Keep your trash can lids closed tightly, remove spilled bird seed from feeders, and avoid leaving pet food or other edible items outdoors.
Seal Openings
Blocking off entry points is another integral part of a deterrent plan. By sealing all openings in vents, ducts, windows, and other potential entry points, you can keep the birds from taking up residence in your home. Despite their stocky stature, these birds can squeeze through surprisingly small spaces, sometimes as narrow as 1–1.5 inches!
So, deter them by covering entry points with galvanized wire mesh, hardware cloth, or durable caulk. Cover vents and chimneys with bird-proof covers, and walk around your home regularly to look for any gaps that could offer a path indoors.
Bird Netting
Netting is an effective physical barrier that can prevent starlings in the garden, eaves, balconies, and other areas where you don’t want them to nest. You can choose from a variety of netting materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, which are durable and weather-resistant.
To install the netting, you’ll need to stretch it securely over areas where starlings are likely to roost, ensuring you fasten it tightly around the edges to prevent the birds from squeezing through. This option is great for larger, more open spaces where other tactics might not work.
Bird Spikes
While this option might sound callous and inhumane, it’s actually intended to humanely and effectively deter starlings from roosting on ledges, windowsills, and other flat surfaces. The spikes aren’t designed to injure birds, but rather to create a not-so-comfy landing surface that discourages the birds from settling.
The spikes come in various materials, including stainless steel and plastic, and are easy to install in problematic areas.
Call Critter Control for Starling Removal
Between the excessive noise, property damage, and aggressive nature that can scare away native bird species, starlings can be quite a nuisance. If your property is plagued by a starling problem, our team at Critter Control can help with starling removal.
We specialize in humanely and safely removing starlings from your property and implementing preventative measures to ensure they don’t return. So, if you’re ready to evict unwelcome starlings from your property, don’t hesitate to contact our team today or find an office near you.
