Starling Control

Starlings are a small-bird problem, and that changes what works. They behave much like sparrows: they are persistent, they nest fast, and they exploit gaps and voids that larger birds cannot use. They also roost communally, so a starling problem often arrives as a flock rather than a pair, and the fouling that comes with a roost builds up quickly.

Below are the Flock Free products we recommend for starlings. If you would rather understand the problem before choosing, the full guide continues underneath.

Shop Starling Control Products

LIQUID BIRD REPELLENTS

GELS & UV PAINT

OZONE

BIRD SPIKES

BIRD NETTING

HAZERS & AUTOMATED SYSTEMS

SPECIALIZED DETERRENTS

Prices shown as listed at the time of publication. See each product page for current pricing and availability. Shipping restrictions apply to certain Flock Free Bird Repellent products in CT, IN, MD, MT, NM, RI, WI and DC — see the individual product page for current availability and shipping information. Other products on this page are not affected.

Not sure which of these fits your building? Call 732-987-5400 and we will talk it through — or keep reading below.

Continue Reading: How to Control Starlings

Why Starlings Become a Problem

• Communal roosting. Starlings gather in numbers, and a roost concentrates droppings on whatever sits underneath it — entrances, walkways, vehicles, stock.
• Nesting in voids. They get into roof spaces, soffits, vents and the cavities behind signage, where nests block airflow and drainage.
• Speed of rebuilding. Small birds re-nest quickly. Removing a nest without closing the opening usually means it is rebuilt in the same place.
• Agricultural loss. Where crops and feed are exposed, starling flocks are a direct cost.

Where Starlings Roost and Nest

• Roof voids, soffits and vents — anywhere a small gap gives access to an enclosed space.
• The cavity behind illuminated signage, which is sheltered, warm and hidden.
• Ledges and beams under canopies and in loading areas.
• Trees and structures used as communal roosts, often close to a reliable food source.

Why starlings keep coming back

Two reasons. The gap they were using is usually still there, and the food that supported them usually is too. Our own guidance on small birds is blunt about it: nothing will hold if access to food is not addressed, and pressure has to be maintained rather than applied once.

How to Control Starlings

Close the openings first

With starlings, exclusion does most of the work. Close the holes and voids birds are entering — soffits, vents, sign cavities and gaps under canopies — using netting or mesh. Our Store Sign Copper Mesh is made for the cavity behind signage, which is one of the most common starling nesting sites we are called to. For larger openings, bird netting closes the space entirely.

Mesh selection matters for small birds. Talk to us about the right specification for the opening you are closing rather than assuming a mesh made for pigeons will exclude starlings.

Spikes sized for small birds

This is where most small-bird jobs go wrong. Standard spikes are too coarse — starlings simply land between them. Use the narrow-gauge Mini Spikes, 1″ wide and make sure the spacing genuinely prevents landing across the full usable width of the ledge.

Bird Proof Gel with Flock Off UV Paint

Bird Proof® Gel paired with Flock Off UV Paint is applied to horizontal surfaces the birds land on. Our field guidance is specific: use this pairing on horizontal surfaces that are not exposed to direct sunlight. Sheltered ledges and beams under cover are where it belongs.

Surface Pro Tack

Surface Pro Tack gives a tacky surface on ledges and sills where a mechanical spike is impractical or where appearance matters.

Bird repellent, applied on a schedule

The Flock Free bird repellent is a plant-based formulation, exempt under FIFRA 25(b). For small birds our guidance is to treat surfaces before the nesting season with handheld sprayers, then keep up weekly or more frequent treatment through the season using the Misting System, a hazer or sprayers. Use the Ready-to-Use spray for small areas and the 1 gallon concentrate for volume.

Bird Bombs — spot treatment for enclosed spaces

Flock Free Bird Bombs are a scent repellent that gives you a long-lasting spot application. Each Bird Bomb is a highly absorbent pod designed to be saturated with Flock Free Bird Repellent, so the treatment stays put instead of needing to be re-sprayed.

Soak the Bird Bomb in the repellent solution — the mix rate is 50% concentrate to 50% water — then place it wherever you need to deter birds. They mount easily with zip ties or any other fastener.

They are designed for small, enclosed spaces: garbage cans, dumpsters, warehouses and small industrial facilities. On a starling job that usually means the loading area, the trash enclosure or a warehouse corner — enclosed spots where the flock keeps returning for food. The Bird Bombs cause irritation that suppresses the birds’ desire to feed and creates a sense of danger in that space.

The 5-pack is supplied on its own and needs Flock Free Bird Repellent separately. The Bird Bomb Bundle includes a single Bird Bomb with a 4 fl oz bottle of concentrate to soak it in.

Choosing the Right Approach

With starlings, the first thing to look for is a way in. If they are getting into a soffit, a vent or the space behind a sign, close it — that single job will do more than anything else on this page, and everything else is secondary until it is done.

Then work out whether you are dealing with a roost or a nest site. A communal roost is an area problem, treated with the repellent program across the whole space the flock uses. A nest site is a hole, and holes get closed.

Where the birds are landing rather than entering, the ledge decides the product. Narrow surfaces need the small-gauge Mini Spikes, and the spacing has to be tight enough that a starling cannot find a gap — fitting spikes made for pigeons is the single most common mistake we see. Whether the ledge sits in shade or full sun decides whether the gel and UV paint pairing applies at all.

And be honest about the food. Small birds stay where there is something to eat, and a program that ignores the bins and the spillage will always be working uphill. Since 2007, Flock Free has been protecting properties from exactly this kind of problem — call 732-987-5400 if you want a second opinion before ordering.

Related Bird Control Resources

• Bird Control Tips by Species of the Birds — our guidance across the other species we treat.
• Bird Netting and Accessories — netting, mesh, fixings and components.
• Bird Spikes — including the small-bird Mini Spikes range.
• UV Paints and Gels — Flock Off UV Paint and Bird Proof Gel.
• Liquid Products — the bird repellent range.
• Store Sign Control — mesh and fixings for signage voids.
• Commercial Bird Control Services — for larger sites and managed programs.

Shop by Bird

Flock Free guidance for the other species we treat:

• Pigeon Control
• Goose Control
• Seagull Control
• Woodpecker Control
• Sparrow Control
• Swallow Control
• Grackle Control
• Crow Control
• Vulture and Buzzard Control
• Blue Heron Control
• Cormorant Control