European Starlings in Tennessee
When Europeans are present in Tennessee, when they nest, which native Tennessee plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Tennessee
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
When to expect Europeans in Tennessee
European Starlings live in Tennessee all year. Moderate winters; high elevations in the Smokies hold northern species year-round. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward fruit, grain and suet.
Humid subtropical, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River floodplain.
Nesting in Tennessee
Across Tennessee, 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.
Hot, humid summers in the valleys.
- 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 Tennessee plants that attract Europeans
Of the regional native plants we track for Tennessee, 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.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Feeding Europeans through the Tennessee year
Non-native; starlings take over woodpecker and bluebird cavities. Upside-down suet feeders deter them.
- Best foods: Suet, Cracked corn.
- In Tennessee's winter: Moderate winters; high elevations in the Smokies hold northern species year-round.
Full diet breakdown for Europeans · Best feeder for Europeans
Frequently asked
Are Europeans in Tennessee year-round?
Yes. European Starlings are year-round residents in Tennessee.
When do Europeans nest in Tennessee?
Nesting in Tennessee typically runs April–June, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract Europeans in Tennessee?
Flowering dogwood, Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Bur oak are native plants in Tennessee that provide food or cover for Europeans.
European Starlings in other regions
Other backyard birds in Tennessee
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 — Tennessee
- 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.