Dealing with Blackbirds
Sometimes you just have too many blackbirds. They can eat more than their share of food and chase other birds away. However, you can be a seasonally savvy hobbyist by anticipating the arrival of your problem birds and implementing the following solutions to keep these birds from monopolizing your feeders. In order to stop them, its important to learn a little bit about some of the blackbirds that may visit your backyard bird feeders.
Some of the native "blackbirds" that may visit your feeders include: Common Grackles: large, lanky blackbirds with long legs and tail and a heavy bill. Adult males appear dark all-over, but in good light sport an iridescent bulish head and bronzish bodies. Females are slightly less glossy than males. Grackles are one of the most commonly seen backyard blackbirds. Red-Winged Blackbirds: Another common blackbird feeder visitor that you see and hear are the Red-Winged Blackbirds. These stocky birds have broad-shoulders and a slender bill. Males are black with a red-and-yellow shoulder patch. Females are a streaky brown, similar to a sparrow. Brown-Headed Cowbirds: a common chunky blackbird with a thick bill. Males have black bodies and brown heads, which can appear all dark in poor lighting. Females are light brown, with the lightest coloring on its head and underparts.
European Starlings are a non-native bird and not related to our native blackbirds. They are iridescent purpleish and are covered in white spots in winter. In spring and summer, the white spots fade on breeding adults as they turn dark and glossy for breeding season. They are most commonly seen in large, nosiy, agressive flocks on lawns and in fields.
*Although not technically correct, many species of birds are commonly lumped into the group "Blackbird".
Starlings will eat nearly anything, but their prefered diet is insects and fruit (berries), When insects and fruit is hard to find, these birds will often turn to your feeders. Their beaks are designed to to eat soft invertebrates, not crack small hard sseed shells. So they will go for the softer foods first (suet, peanut pieces, and food without shells). If those foods aren't an option, they may force themselves to eat other seed with shells. Fortunately, we do have a few tricks to eliminating them and slowing them down at feeders, so other birds can get a meal too!
Other blackbirds (Grackles, Red-winged blackbirds, and Cowbirds) are more traditional seed eaters. They are less likely to bother suet, unless its of poor quality (made of grains and seeds), prefering common seeds. There are several options for minimizing blackbird issues without stopping your favorite backyard birds from visiting.
It may take 2 or more of the following solutions to exclude the blackbirds you don't want, while still feeding all the different species you do enjoy! *Note: some of these products are available online, but others are only offered in-store. Call us at 815-744-3800 if you would like to set-up curbside pickup or shipping on these items.
Blackbird Solutions: 
1. Exclude Them!
The most effective way to avoid losing all of your bird food to blackbirds is to physically prevent them from gaining access to the food. Blackbirds are too large to fit throuight the openings of the cage that surrounds the feeder. Yet, smaller birds fly right throught the openings easily. Even larger woodpeckers can still feed thanks to their unique bird adaptations: long necks, prying beaks, and agile tongues, which can stretch to obtain food. These cages will also stop squirrels and other critters from accessing the food and quickly pay for thmeselves in terms of food saved.
Cage Feeders and Feeder Accessories
Cages come in a variety of styles for a variety of feeders. We have cages that have feeders built into them. We also carry On-Guard cages, in which an existing feeder can be put into. We recommend that you bring in the existing feeder you would like to cage, so that we can properly fit it. We offer a variety of cages for seed tube, finch, peanut, suet, and some speciality feeders. Some cages are *special order only*. *Please call the store for questions: 815-744-3800*
2. Offer Foods That Are Less Appealing
There are a few foods which are less appealing to blackbirds. Using these foods in feeders that don't have cage guards on them can help discourage these birds from taking over.
Safflower and Safflower Seed Cylinders
Safflower seeds have a very hard shell and the seed itself it bitter in taste. Many Starlings can't crack the shell and other blackbirds simply don't like the taste, making safflower a great option for limiting blackbirds at feeders. Some may eat safflower in the worst weather, but it will discourage the majority of them. Safflower is availble as a loose seed to use in most standard feeders, or as a compressed seed cylinder, which is even more challenging for blackbirds. *To be effective, safflower must be the only seed in the feeder!*. It will not work when mixed with other seeds like sunflower seeds. Safflower is very appealing to Northern Cardinals, but it will also attract House Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Grosbeaks, Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, and Mourning Doves, and woodpeckers.
Pro-Tip: A two-feeder combination of safflower in a non-caged feeder and a WBU blend in a caged feeder is our top choice for insuring that both Cardinals and smaller birds get their favorite food, while limiting blackbirds.
Simply Suet 
Suet eating birds enjoy it, but most Starlings (and other blackbirds) don't care for it. Simply Suet, is pure rendered suet with no added nuts, fruit, or mealworms. To put it simply, it is pure suet only. Woodpeckers and other suet eating birds will readily eat it this high fat food offering. We recommend using Simply Suet in colder temperatures or in the shade as this product can melt easily. An added benefit of Simply Suet is that Squirrels don't care for it much either. Learn more about Simply Suet and Order Online Here!
*Pro-Tip: A two-feeder combination of Simply Suet in a WBU tailprop feeder and WBU SuperSuet or other flavor wbu suet in a caged feeder is our top choice for insuing both larger woodpeckers and smaller woodpecker have access to suet, while limiting the blackbirds.
In-Shell Peanuts 
Since starlings lack the beak strength to crack hard peanut shells, whole peanuts in the shell can successfully attract Blue Jays, Woodpeckers, Titmice, and a few other bird species. Note: Grackles CAN crack peanut shells, so this advice applies only to European Starlings*
3. Slow Them Down With Feeder Solutions
We offer a variety of feeders that can help you feed only the birds you want, while being challenging enough that it just slows them down, minimizes, or prevents the amount of starlings and blackbirds that can eat at the feeder.
Upside Down Suet Feeder 
The challenge of accessing food from only the bottom of this feeder may be enough to keep starlings and other blackbirds from eating an entire cake, if any at all! This feeder is easy for woodpeckers, chickadees and other clinging birds to use. *Visit us in-store for tips and recommendations on using this feeder!
Clingers Only Feeders
Because there are no perches or ledges on which to sit, the blackbirds do not use these feeders as easily as smaller birds or birds that are capable of clinging. Again, it will not stop all blackbirds, but these feeders can be used to reduce the numbers and amount of food that can be eaten in a sitting. Feeders such as our WBU suet cylinder log feeder, WBU suet plug feeders, and some barkbutter feeders are clinger only styles.
The Flying Bistro Feeder
The versatlity of this feeder makes it a game-changer for bird feeding. This feeder is able to hold small or large seed cylinders AND loose foods in the tray below. A function of this feeder that makes it work against blackbirds is that it has an adjustable lid that hangs over the bottom tray. When the lid is lowered it makes the space tighter and very difficult, if not impossible for larger blackbirds to access the food.
The Eliminator™ and Fundamentals and Other Squirrel-proof feeders.
These feeders are weight-sensitive and will close off access to the food when heavier visitors, such as starlings and other blackbirds sit on it. You can set the weight tension on most of these types of feeders to allow access to certain sized (weight) birds. Some of these feeders are capable of being mounted or hung!
Let Us Help You Find a Solution That Works Best For You!
We hope these tips and tricks are useful for helping to discourage blackbirds in your backyard. For more information, stop by Wild Birds Unlimited and we'll be happy to discuss the particulars of your backyard and help you create a plan to encourage the birds you want, while discouraging the ones you don't.
*Please note: We are locally owned and operated. We specialize in local, personalized service, so we encourage you to stop in so we can discuss the specifics of your yard and help you choose the best option for your situation. If you live out of the area, you can also find some of our products in our online shop- MyWBU or Call the store direct! (815-744-3800)