Where do starlings nest?
Starling · Sturnus vulgaris
Starlings nest in holes: gaps under roof tiles and in the eaves of houses, cavities in trees, crevices in walls and rocks, and nest boxes with a 45 mm entrance. They like to nest near each other and near short grass to feed on. Eggs are laid from April, and pairs raise one or two broods.
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- Where
- Holes in roofs, eaves, trees and walls, often in loose colonies
- Nest
- A loose pile of grass, leaves and twigs, lined with feathers
- When
- April to June, sometimes from mid-March
- Eggs
- Usually 4 or 5, pale blue, about 12 to 15 days of sitting
- Broods
- One or two
- Fledging
- About 3 weeks after hatching
- Nest box
- 45 mm entrance hole, at least 3 m up
Where starlings nest
In a hole, and very often in a hole in a house. Gaps under roof tiles, spaces in the eaves and soffits, and holes in old walls are where a lot of British starlings nest. Away from buildings they use tree holes, including old woodpecker holes, and crevices in rocks and cliffs.
They are sociable about it. Several pairs often nest close together in a loose colony, and they like to be near short grass, where they probe for leatherjackets and other grubs. A row of terraced houses next to a playing field suits them very well.
What a starling’s nest looks like
Untidy. It is a loose mass of dry grass, leaves and twigs stuffed into the hole. The male starts it, and the female finishes the job, lining it with finer grass, moss and feathers.
When starlings nest
From April to June, and sometimes from mid-March. In a colony, the females tend to lay their first clutches at about the same time. There are usually four or five glossy pale blue eggs, and both parents take turns sitting on them for 12 to 15 days. The chicks fly at around three weeks old, and the noise from a roof full of hungry starlings is hard to miss.
If you find a single blue egg lying on the ground in spring, there is a fair chance it is a starling’s. Females sometimes lay an egg in a neighbour’s nest and may remove one of the eggs already there.
How to help starlings nest
Starlings are on the Red list. The RSPB says UK numbers fell by more than half between 1995 and 2023, and losing nest sites in roofs is part of the problem. So this one is worth doing:
- Put up a starling box. A box with a 45 mm entrance hole, bigger than a tit box, fixed at least 3 metres up, ideally under the eaves or on a big tree, facing between north and east, out of strong sun. Put up two or three, because starlings like neighbours.
- Leave existing holes open. If starlings nest in your roof, plan any repairs for autumn or winter. Their nests cannot legally be removed while they are in use.
- Keep some short grass. A lawn that is not sprayed is a feeding ground full of grubs.
- Feed them. Suet and fat balls are popular, especially when they have young to feed.
Checked against: RSPB: Starling, RSPB: Create a cosy starling home, BTO BirdFacts: Starling. Last checked 8 November 2026.
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Questions
Do starlings nest in roofs?
Yes, very often, in gaps under tiles and in the eaves. It is legal to proof a roof against them, but only outside the nesting season, never while a nest is in use.
When do starlings nest?
Mainly from April to June, sometimes starting in mid-March. They raise one or two broods.
What size hole does a starling box need?
About 45 mm across. Smaller holes, like the 25 to 32 mm ones on tit and sparrow boxes, keep starlings out.
Do starlings use the same nest every year?
They often come back to the same hole, which is why a roof or box can have starlings in it year after year.
