European Starlings in Texas

European Starlings live in Texas all year. Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward fruit, grain and suet.

Humid subtropical in the east and along the Gulf, semi-arid to arid in the west; long, hot summers and short, mild winters over most of the state.

Across Texas, Europeans typically nest from March–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.

Afternoon highs regularly exceed 95°F — nest boxes need shade or light-colored, ventilated construction, and water matters as much as food.

• European Starlings don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as yaupon holly, american beautyberry, coral honeysuckle for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Of the regional native plants we track for Texas, these 8 provide food or cover Europeans use:

Non-native; starlings take over woodpecker and bluebird cavities. Upside-down suet feeders deter them.

• Best foods: Suet, Cracked corn.
• In Texas's winter: Hard freezes are brief outside the Panhandle, so most feeder birds face heat and drought stress more than cold.

Full diet breakdown for Europeans · Best feeder for Europeans