European Starlings in North Dakota
When Europeans are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
When to expect Europeans in North Dakota
European Starlings live in North Dakota all year. Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward fruit, grain and suet.
Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Nesting in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, Europeans typically nest from May–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.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
- European Starlings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, smooth sumac, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native North Dakota plants that attract Europeans
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover Europeans use:
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
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.
Feeding Europeans through the North Dakota year
Non-native; starlings take over woodpecker and bluebird cavities. Upside-down suet feeders deter them.
- Best foods: Suet, Cracked corn.
- In North Dakota's winter: Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.
Full diet breakdown for Europeans · Best feeder for Europeans
Frequently asked
Are Europeans in North Dakota year-round?
Yes. European Starlings are year-round residents in North Dakota.
When do Europeans nest in North Dakota?
Nesting in North Dakota typically runs May–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract Europeans in North Dakota?
Eastern red cedar, Smooth sumac, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Virginia creeper, New England aster, Tall goldenrod are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for Europeans.
European Starlings in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Dakota
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 — North Dakota
- 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.