European starlings are aggressive cavity-nesting birds that jam nests into vents and signage and gather in large, noisy, messy flocks across the CSRA.

How to identify the European Starling

Stocky black birds with an iridescent green-purple sheen and white speckles in winter; the bill turns yellow in breeding season. They fly in dense flocks.

Behavior & biology

They aggressively take over cavities — dryer and exhaust vents, signage, soffit gaps — and roost communally in large numbers, displacing native birds.

Why European Starlings are a problem

Nests clog and disable vents (a fire and moisture hazard), droppings foul and corrode surfaces, and large roosts create noise and disease concerns.

Signs of an infestation

Chattering flocks, nests packed into vents and signs, droppings below roosts, and blocked dryer or exhaust vents.

How we handle European Starlings in the CSRA

The fix is exclusion — screening vents and sealing cavities so they cannot re-nest. Our bird exclusion program handles it. Call 803-226-3155 to schedule. Browse the full pest library.