How Do Starlings Avoid Being Caught By A Bird Of Prey?

Starlings are unspecialised birds that are able to live in a wide range of different habitats through the world. They can also eat a range of diets – their bills are generally strong, straight and fairly long and are suited to eating a wide variety of food.

They tend to fly in flocks of several birds and a flock of starling presents an attractive hunting option for a bird of prey in the vicinity. As soon as the starlings spot their enemy, they cluster together in a tight group. Moving as one much bigger bird, they make it difficult for the bird of prey to single out a target and it moves off in search of easier prey.

As this example illustrates, starlings are highly gregarious birds. They like to live in flocks and forage for food together and roost together. They also breed in colonies, each pair of birds having its own small territory.

Starlings can actually ward off birds of prey.
As Kath has stated they are gregarious birds and this helps protect them.

If you live in an area were there are both alot of starlings and birds of prey take time to observe the habits of these birds.

If a bird of prey encroaches on the 'territory ' of other birds they can become very agitated. Birds who tend to inhabit gardens can be very territorial.

I have seen starlings and other birds form groups in the air and surround a bird of prey. This is accompanied by a great deal of noise!

The group surround the bird and act rather like a squadron of planes escorting a plane out of a forbidden zone. I've seen alot of this where I live and the starlings can fly for a considerable distance to remove the 'offending' unwanted visitor from their territory.