Starlings in Sweden
When the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) is present in Sweden, when it nests, and which native Sweden plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Sweden
- Summer visitor
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 21 cm, 78 g
- Nest box
- 45 mm hole, 3 m+ up
When to expect starlings in Sweden
The Starling arrives in Sweden in spring to breed and leaves again in autumn. Short, intense summers with very long days.
Temperate in the south, boreal across most of the country and subarctic in the far north.
Nesting in Sweden
In Sweden the Starling usually nests May–June. Nest site: cavities in roofs and trees; boxes. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12 days; chicks fledge after 21 days, and pairs raise 1–2 per year.
- Nest box: 45 mm hole, 3 m+ up. Put boxes up by February and clean them out between September and January.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Sweden plants for starlings
Of the native plants we track for Sweden, these 8 provide food the Starling uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Orange-red berries are a magnet for Blackbirds, thrushes and Waxwings from August.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Hips persist into winter for thrushes and finches.
Translucent red berries in autumn.
Pink-orange fruit eaten by Robins and thrushes.
Feeding in the garden
Leatherjackets and other soil insects; fruit.
- Best foods: Suet, Mealworms.
- Feeders: Suet cage, Ground tray.
- UK Starlings have declined by two-thirds since 1970; they are now a Red-listed species.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are starlings in Sweden all year?
No. The Starling is a summer visitor to Sweden, arriving to breed and leaving in autumn.
When do starlings nest in Sweden?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12 days, with 1–2 per year.
Which native plants help starlings in Sweden?
Hawthorn, Rowan, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Dog rose, Guelder rose, Spindle are native to Sweden and provide food or cover the Starling uses.
What nest box does the Starling use?
45 mm hole, 3 m+ up.
Starlings in other countries
Other garden birds in Sweden
Sources
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.