Common birds you don't want to spot flying anywhere near your yard

Scrub jay

At first, the scrub jay's bright blue feathers may make you excited to see it flying near your home, but this bird can be a nuisance to have around. While they may look cute and sweet, they have an aggressive side to them. Notorious for being territorial, these backyard bullies will scare off smaller birds at your feeders and even attack hummingbirds. Because they're so aggressive, songbirds will keep their distance if they see a scrub jay around. Aside from monopolizing feeding stations, these jays tend to save their food for later by burying acorns. Their unique hiding habits can be destructive, leaving behind small holes and damaged plants in your garden. Additionally, scrub jays are noisy, and their harsh, scratchy calls can be irritating, especially early in the morning.

To keep the jays at bay, start by swapping out open feeders for caged feeders. These guards work by allowing small species to access the seed while keeping larger birds, like scrub jays, from getting to the food at all. As a bonus, these deterrents tend to also keep squirrels from hogging all the bird seed. The main downside is that some models may make it challenging for medium-sized birds, like cardinals, to reach the tray. Once the scrub jays realize your backyard isn't the best spot for food, they'll likely find another place to eat.

Eastern kingbird

Eastern kingbirds may be relatively small, but don't let their appearance fool you. Although hawks may go for other songbirds in your yard, raptors may meet their match when faced with these bold little defenders. They're aggressive when it comes to protecting their nests and are ready to fight against larger predators or other birds if they come too close. While it's understandable they want to protect their nests, their territorial behavior extends past where they raise their young. Eastern kingbirds will relentlessly attack any birds in their territory, which may make other songbirds look for a more peaceful area to feed and nest.

Although eastern kingbirds aren't the worst species to have nearby, watching them regularly attack other birds can be jarring. Deterring this species can be a little tricky, especially if they've already made your backyard their chosen territory. Because they prefer open yards with scattered vegetation, adding more covered areas and more dense shrubbery may make your outdoor area less appealing. They also enjoy perching on high vantage points, like tall fences, to hunt for prey. Bird spikes are the go-to for preventing species like pigeons from landing and leaving droppings, but they could come in handy to deter eastern kingbirds from perching. These devices aren't meant to injure birds, so don't worry about that — they just encourage them to land elsewhere.

Ring-necked pheasant

If you see movement in a grassy area of your backyard, you could have an unexpected visitor. Despite the allure of their colorful feathers, ring-necked pheasants can cause a lot of damage in your garden. These large birds are ground foragers, meaning they scratch at the soil to search for food. As they use their bills to dig for insects, they can tear up your lawn, damage delicate flowers, and destroy vegetable plants. Bugs aren't the only food that lives beneath the soil; they may also remove roots to feed on. If that's not bad enough, these opportunistic feeders will also eat plant leaves, crops, flowers, and delicate buds in your garden. Additionally, they can be aggressive toward other ground-nesting birds and even use another species' nest to lay their eggs.

Although they're non-native, ring-necked pheasants may stumble into your yard if you're near their range or if they've been released nearby for hunters. If they're causing damage, consider installing a motion-activated sprinkler system to scare them away. You can also install fencing or netting to limit food sources and protect your crops from pheasants and other destructive pests. Eliminate large patches of weedy areas or tall grasses if feasible, as these lush plants provide both food and nesting areas for ring-necked pheasants.

European starlings

European starlings are notoriously aggressive and travel in large, noisy flocks that can quickly take over your bird feeders and drive native species away. Aside from bullying other birds, starlings also have an annoying habit of digging through gardens to search for insects, leaving behind a mess of soil and damaged plants. They're also fond of fruit crops, and their repeated pecks can leave plants vulnerable to disease. Starlings aren't picky when choosing a nesting spot either and often take over more desirable bird nests, like bluebirds. Add in the fact that they are another bird which is known to harbor diseases, and it's best to deter them from your yard.

To prevent starlings from taking over, use feeders specifically designed for smaller birds. For example, a bird feeder with a weight-sensitive perch that collapses under the weight of a starling. If you don't want to swap out food stations, try opting for safflower seeds, which starlings find less appealing. If they've built nests in an unwanted place, like a vent, cover these areas with a bird netting to discourage them from returning.

American crows

Although crows are highly intelligent and fascinating to watch, they can be a headache for gardeners. Crows are opportunistic feeders and won't turn down a quick snack from your vegetable garden, especially if you grow corn. If they don't find any worthwhile crops, they may scavenge through the trash, creating an unsanitary mess outside. They're also notorious nest predators and will eat baby birds or eggs in the nests of favored songbirds. Plus, they're noisy animals, and their loud caws can go from a little irritating to downright unbearable.

One effective way to discourage crows from flocking to your yard is to eliminate easy food sources. Make sure your trash cans and compost piles have secure lids, and immediately clean up any fallen scraps. Scarecrows got their name for a reason, and they don't have to be the stereotypical straw-stuffed clothing type to work. If you employ a human-like model, dress it in brightly colored clothes and relocate the scarecrow often for best results. Mechanical visual deterrents are even better because crows don't adapt to them as quickly. Lastly, add a few shrubs or trees to give other birds a spot to build well-hidden nests.

Brown-headed cowbirds

You may not notice the destruction of brown-headed cowbirds as easily as other species, like European starlings. However, nesting birds in your yard will surely be stressed to see these birds nearby. Brown-headed cowbirds practice obligate brood parasitism, meaning instead of building their own nests, they lay eggs in the nests of other birds. Cowbirds are cunning and sneaky, carefully watching as a different mother bird prepares her nest and lays her eggs. Once the brown-headed cowbird sneaks an egg into the host female's nest, she has no idea she's got extra young to care for. Species like cardinals, warblers, vireos, and hundreds of others are frequent victims whose own hatchlings tend to suffer as a result. The cowbird nestlings will beg for food more than the host female's young, so the intruder gets more food than her babies.

To reduce cowbird activity, avoid placing open feeding trays on the ground, as they prefer to forage in open areas. Tube feeders or those with smaller perches are ideal because they're less accessible for medium-sized birds. Brown-headed cowbirds love bird food packed with millet, sunflower seeds, and cracked corn, so opt for less desirable options like safflower seeds, whole peanuts, suet, or nyjer seeds.

House finch

Finches are undeniably cute and colorful, and many people welcome them in the gardens. However, house finches are considered invasive in some areas. They're voracious eaters, competing for food against native species, like purple finches, and will quickly deplete your feeders. Additionally, because they tend to gather in flocks, they're more able to out-compete other songbirds for resources. Additionally, they are carriers of house finch eye disease, a bacterial illness that's a form of conjunctivitis. Although most birds aren't at risk, it can spread to other house finches and American goldfinches. When infected, these birds often become blind, making them targets for predators. Worse yet, these birds can also carry salmonellosis, which can spread to other birds, pets, and even humans.

The easiest way to keep house finches out of your yard is to limit their available food. Switch to a seed mix they don't prefer, like safflower seeds or nyjer.  Consider installing upside-down feeders with the feeding holes underneath the perching area. House finches rarely hang upside down to feed, so they're more likely to look elsewhere for food. As a bonus, this design also keeps out other nuisance birds, like house sparrows.