European Starlings in Massachusetts
When Europeans are present in Massachusetts, when they nest, which native Massachusetts plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–7b yard.
- Status in Massachusetts
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–7b
When to expect Europeans in Massachusetts
European Starlings live in Massachusetts all year. Snowy winters with nor'easters; Cape Cod is milder and holds more half-hardy birds. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward fruit, grain and suet.
Humid continental with maritime influence on Cape Cod and the islands.
Nesting in Massachusetts
Across Massachusetts, 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 summers; nesting peaks late May to July.
- European Starlings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as flowering dogwood, eastern red cedar, serviceberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Massachusetts plants that attract Europeans
Of the regional native plants we track for Massachusetts, these 8 provide food or cover Europeans use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding Europeans through the Massachusetts year
Non-native; starlings take over woodpecker and bluebird cavities. Upside-down suet feeders deter them.
- Best foods: Suet, Cracked corn.
- In Massachusetts's winter: Snowy winters with nor'easters; Cape Cod is milder and holds more half-hardy birds.
Full diet breakdown for Europeans · Best feeder for Europeans
Frequently asked
Are Europeans in Massachusetts year-round?
Yes. European Starlings are year-round residents in Massachusetts.
When do Europeans nest in Massachusetts?
Nesting in Massachusetts typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract Europeans in Massachusetts?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Black cherry are native plants in Massachusetts that provide food or cover for Europeans.
European Starlings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Massachusetts
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 — Massachusetts
- 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.