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Starlings are one of the most familiar birds in Britain, and a winter murmuration of thousands of them is a remarkable sight. Close up, they can be a problem. A pair nesting in a gap in the roof, or a flock roosting on a building every night, brings noise, droppings and mess. The fix depends on which of the two you have.
How to recognise a starling
Starlings are about 21cm long, a little smaller than a blackbird, with a short tail, pointed triangular wings and a long, pointed bill. From a distance they look black. Close up, the plumage has a glossy green and purple sheen. In winter they are heavily speckled with pale spots, and the bill is dark. In spring and summer the spots wear away and the bill turns yellow. Young starlings are a plain grey-brown.
They are noisy birds, with a constant mix of whistles, clicks and chatter, and they are good mimics of other birds. In flight they are fast and direct, and they move around in groups.
Nesting starlings: spring and early summer
Starlings nest in cavities. Around houses that means gaps under roof tiles, behind loose soffits and fascias, in open vents and in holes in brickwork. Nest building starts around late March or April, and most young have left by the end of June, though a second brood can run later.
A nesting pair brings noise from first light, nesting material in gutters, droppings below the entrance, and sometimes bird mites that wander into the rooms below when the young leave. Our guide to starlings nesting in the eaves covers this in detail.
Roosting flocks: autumn and winter
From autumn, the resident population is joined by starlings from northern and eastern Europe that spend the winter here. They feed in groups during the day and gather to roost together at night. In the countryside that is usually reedbeds and woodland. In towns, starlings roost on buildings, bridges, signs and trees, and a roost can be used every night for months.
A roosting flock on a building is a business problem as much as a household one:
- Fouling builds up quickly on ledges, signage, pavements, cars and outdoor seating below.
- Slip hazards where droppings collect on walkways and steps.
- Noise as the flock arrives at dusk and leaves at first light.
- Blocked gutters and drains from droppings and feathers.
- Hygiene. Bird droppings can carry bacteria and fungi. A build-up should be cleaned with gloves and a mask, and dampened down first rather than swept dry.
What the law says
All wild birds in Great Britain are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is an offence to kill or injure a starling, to take or destroy its eggs, or to take, damage or destroy its nest while it is being built or in use. Starlings have declined sharply and are on the UK red list of birds of highest conservation concern, so there is no general licence that allows them to be removed because they are a nuisance.
For nesting starlings, that means waiting until the young have fledged and the nest is empty before clearing and proofing. For roosting flocks, proofing can be fitted to the ledges and structures they use, as long as there are no active nests in the area being worked on.
Preventing starling problems
- Proof the gaps before spring. The best time to close eaves gaps, loose soffits and open vents is between late summer and late winter, before the birds start looking for nest sites. Eaves combs under the first row of tiles, repaired soffit boards, and mesh over vents are the usual fixes. Keep vents meshed, not sealed, so the roof still ventilates.
- Proof the roost. Where a flock roosts on a building, netting, sprung wire or spikes on the ledges and structures they use stops them settling. Our guide to anti-roosting measures explains the options.
- Reduce food. Bird tables, ground-scattered food and open bins all attract starlings. Feeders designed for small birds help.
- Be realistic about scarers. Reflective tape, mirrors, decoy predators and recorded calls are widely sold. Starlings get used to them quickly, and they do nothing for a bird that has already chosen a nest hole.
When to call us
If starlings are nesting in your roof, call us and we will tell you what can be done now and book the proofing for when the nest is empty. If a flock is roosting on your building, we survey where they settle, clear and disinfect the fouled areas, and fit the proofing that keeps them off. Our bird control page explains how a job runs, or call 01926 632 929.
Starlings nesting in the eaves → Bird control and proofing → Send us a photo →