European Starlings in New York
When Europeans are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect Europeans in New York
European Starlings live in New York all year. Long, snowy winters upstate; lake-effect snow belts make feeders and roost boxes important. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward fruit, grain and suet.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, 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 with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- European Starlings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native New York plants that attract Europeans
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover Europeans use:
Winter fruit.
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
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.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Feeding Europeans through the New York year
Non-native; starlings take over woodpecker and bluebird cavities. Upside-down suet feeders deter them.
- Best foods: Suet, Cracked corn.
- In New York's winter: Long, snowy winters upstate; lake-effect snow belts make feeders and roost boxes important.
Full diet breakdown for Europeans · Best feeder for Europeans
Frequently asked
Are Europeans in New York year-round?
Yes. European Starlings are year-round residents in New York.
When do Europeans nest in New York?
Nesting in New York typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract Europeans in New York?
Winterberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for Europeans.
European Starlings in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
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 — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.