Video Of Savage Battle Between Northern Flicker And European Starling Inside A Bird House

[Steve Kroenke]

Video Of Savage Battle Between Northern Flicker And European Starling Inside A Bird House

Northern flickers suffer heavy nest competition from European starlings. Though a flicker is larger, heavier and has a more powerful beak, the flicker usually loses in battles, particularly INSIDE the cavity with starlings. Starlings are more aggressive and will literally fight to the death over a cavity. Plus starlings have been successfully competing with European woodpeckers for thousands of years BEFORE the starlings were introduced in North America. So the starling was ready for our woodpeckers while our woodpeckers were not for the starling.

Here is a link to a savage battle between a flicker and a starling inside a birdhouse. Notice how the starling quickly "neutralizes" the flicker's powerful beak by grabbing it with his strong feet. This starling "knew" exactly what to do! I don't know how flickers ever even nest successfully in starling infested areas during their normal nesting period. Some flickers will delay nesting until later when starlings are no longer looking for cavities. But these nesting attempts may not be as productive as during the normal period.

Our North American woodpeckers, particularly the Northern flicker, and red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers are under full assault during the active nesting period by starlings. When you eliminate starlings through shooting/trapping, you are not only helping purple martins but woodpeckers and other native cavity birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1WGKzl ... JELpDJND5s

[Andrew Smith]

That's a crazy video. Makes me dislike European Starlings even more! I will continue to do my best to get rid of this bird, I had no idea how aggressive they were.

[Black Jack]

Video Of Savage Battle Between Northern Flicker And European Starling Inside A Bird House

Northern flickers suffer heavy nest competition from European starlings. Though a flicker is larger, heavier and has a more powerful beak, the flicker usually loses in battles, particularly INSIDE the cavity with starlings. Starlings are more aggressive and will literally fight to the death over a cavity. Plus starlings have been successfully competing with European woodpeckers for thousands of years BEFORE the starlings were introduced in North America. So the starling was ready for our woodpeckers while our woodpeckers were not for the starling.

Here is a link to a savage battle between a flicker and a starling inside a birdhouse. Notice how the starling quickly "neutralizes" the flicker's powerful beak by grabbing it with his strong feet. This starling "knew" exactly what to do! I don't know how flickers ever even nest successfully in starling infested areas during their normal nesting period. Some flickers will delay nesting until later when starlings are no longer looking for cavities. But these nesting attempts may not be as productive as during the normal period.

Our North American woodpeckers, particularly the Northern flicker, and red-headed and red-bellied woodpeckers are under full assault during the active nesting period by starlings. When you eliminate starlings through shooting/trapping, you are not only helping purple martins but woodpeckers and other native cavity birds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1WGKzl ... JELpDJND5s

I shoot every starling i see.

[C.C.Martins]

If theres any doubt they are dangerous, heres proof.
No wonder they are so sucessful. Shame. I shoot too.