European Starlings in Colorado
When Europeans are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect Europeans in Colorado
European Starlings live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward fruit, grain and suet.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, Europeans typically nest from April–June. Nest site: cavities of any kind. Females lay 4–6 eggs, incubate for 12 days, and young leave the nest after 21–23 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- European Starlings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as smooth sumac, virginia creeper, pin cherry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Colorado plants that attract Europeans
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover Europeans use:
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.
Feeding Europeans through the Colorado year
Non-native; starlings take over woodpecker and bluebird cavities. Upside-down suet feeders deter them.
- Best foods: Suet, Cracked corn.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for Europeans · Best feeder for Europeans
Frequently asked
Are Europeans in Colorado year-round?
Yes. European Starlings are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do Europeans nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract Europeans in Colorado?
Smooth sumac, Virginia creeper, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Rocky Mountain juniper are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for Europeans.
European Starlings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- European Starling — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- European Starling life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- European Starling — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.