Distinguished by its long, pointed beak and dark feathers with navy and forest green hints, common grackles are found in the Eastern US and Canada, bullying smaller birds, making a mess of feeders, and can be deterred by using tube feeders with small perches or bottom-accessed suet feeders.
Common grackle
Known for burnt orange shoulders and fierce territoriality, red-winged blackbirds attack other birds and even pets or humans, favor seed mixes, and can be deterred by switching to striped sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, or thistle seeds.
Red-winged blackbird
Extremely territorial and loud, blue jays attack other birds, even decapitating them and eating their eggs, and can be kept at bay by setting up a separate feeder with peanuts, suet cakes, or sunflower seeds, and using tube or cage feeders.
Blue jay
Introduced in 1890, these invasive birds compete with native species, destroy crops, and create messes, flocking in large numbers; they can be somewhat deterred by using suet cakes or cage feeders but are generally difficult to manage.
European starling
Traveling in large groups, crows depress the population of backyard songbirds and open doors for other bullying birds; they can be deterred by avoiding human foods, securing trash bins, and using decoys.
American crow
Another invasive species, house sparrows are aggressive, chase other birds, take over nests, and can be difficult to get rid of; they can be somewhat managed by avoiding seeds they like, such as millet, cracked corn, or sunflower seeds.
House sparrow
Cool but predatory, hawks indicate prey near your feeder, and can chase away or eat beloved songbirds; help songbirds elude hawks by providing brush piles or hedges for hiding.
Hawks