How To Keep Magpies Away From Bird Feeders

If you love feeding songbirds, you’ve probably faced the magpie problem. These clever, bold birds can quickly dominate a feeder, scaring off smaller species and emptying your seed supply in no time. Learning how to keep magpies away from bird feeders is key to creating a peaceful backyard haven for all your feathered visitors. The good news is that you can do this effectively without causing harm, using smart strategies that work with a magpie’s natural behavior.

Magpies are intelligent and adaptable. To deter them, you need to be a little smarter. The goal isn’t to fight them, but to make your feeding station less appealing or accessible to them while still welcoming smaller birds. A combination of tactics always works best.

Why Magpies Are a Challenge at Feeders

First, it helps to understand your “opponent.” Magpies are larger, so they need more space to land. They are also omnivorous, meaning they’ll eat almost anything—seed, suet, scraps, and even other birds’ eggs. Their size and boldness intimidate finches, tits, and robins. A single magpie pair can clear a feeder meant for a dozen small birds in one visit. Recognizing this helps you choose the right deterrents.

Physical Feeder Modifications That Work

Changing the hardware is your first and most reliable line of defense. Magpies struggle with certain feeder designs that smaller birds handle easily.

Use Caged Feeders: Surround your seed or suet feeder with a metal cage that has gaps no larger than 1.5 inches. Small birds can zip through, but magpies cannot fit.
Install Baffles: A sturdy, domed baffle placed above a hanging feeder, or a tube baffle on the pole below it, prevents magpies from reaching the food. Ensure the baffle is wide enough and positioned correctly so they can’t reach around it.
Switch to Small Perches or None: Magpies need a substantial landing spot. Use feeders with only tiny perches or just feeding ports. Weight-activated feeders that close under a magpie’s weight are also brilliant, though sometimes squirrels can trigger them too.

Strategic Feeder Placement

Where you put your feeders matters just as much as what type they are. Magpies prefer easy access and a clear escape route.

Hang Feeders in the Open: Place feeders at least 10 feet away from fences, thick bushes, or rooftops. These are launch pads for magpies. In the open, small birds can see danger coming, but magpies feel to exposed to linger.
Use Thin, Wobbly Poles: Mount feeders on a thin, flexible pole that bends under a magpie’s weight. They find it unstable and unsettling.
Keep Feeders Low: This seems counterintuitive, but magpies often scout from higher vantage points. Placing feeders closer to the ground under a dense shrub (with a clear small-bird entrance) can hide them from magpie view while allowing sparrows and dunnocks easy access.

Choosing the Right Food

What you offer can attract or discourage magpies. They have strong preferences.

Avoid Large Peanuts, Whole Corn, and Bread Scraps: These are magpie magnets. They love them.
Offer Selective Seed Mixes: Use feeders with nyjer (thistle) seed, which is loved by goldfinches but ignored by magpies. Black oil sunflower seeds in tube feeders with small ports are also less appealing to them.
Stop Feeding Kitchen Scraps on the Ground: If you want to discourage magpies, eliminating easy ground food is crucial. They are excellent foragers.

Humane Scare Tactics and Distractions

These methods rely on making magpies feel unwelcome or providing a better alternative elsewhere.

Use Reflective, Moving Objects: Hang old CDs, reflective tape, or special bird scare tape near feeders. The movement and flashes of light can startle them. Move these objects regularly so the magpies don’t get used to them.
Try a Fake Predator: A realistic fake owl or hawk decoy can work for a short time. Again, you must move it every few days to keep the illusion believable.
Create a Magpie-Friendly Zone Away from Feeders: This is a clever strategy. Set up a separate feeding area on the opposite side of your garden with food magpies prefer, like a bit of dog kibble or unsalted peanuts in the shell. This can distract them from your main songbird feeders.

What Not to Do: Inhumane Methods to Avoid

It’s important to stay ethical. Never use poisons, glue, or traps intended to harm. This is often illegal and can injure other wildlife and pets. Your aim is to deter, not hurt. Magpies are native birds and play a role in the ecosystem, like controlling insect populations. We just want to gently persuade them to dine elsewhere.

Long-Term Garden Management

Think beyond the feeder. A garden designed for small birds is naturally less inviting for magpies.

Plant Dense, Thorny Shrubs: Plants like pyracantha, berberis, or holly provide excellent cover for small birds to hide and nest, places where magpies won’t easily follow.
Keep Your Lawn Tidy: A well-kept lawn offers fewer insects and grubs for magpies to find, making your garden a less rewarding territory.
Use a Bird Bath with Care: Magpies need water too. A shallow bath is fine, but if they’re dominating it, consider a small, hanging water dripper that’s less accessible to them.

Step-by-Step Plan to Implement

Assess: Watch for a few days. Note where the magpies land and which feeders they target.
Modify Hardware First: Install a caged feeder or a pole baffle on your most popular feeder. This gives you the quickest result.
Change Food: Switch the food in your vulnerable feeders to nyjer or shelled sunflower hearts for a while.
Rearrange: Move feeders to new, more open locations using thin, wobbly mounting options if possible.
Add a Distraction: If problems persist, set up a distraction feeding area away from your main feeders.
Be Consistent: Magpies will test your setup. Don’t give up. Consistency is key to teaching them your feeders are not a reliable food source.

FAQ: Keeping Magpies Off Your Feeders

What is the most effective magpie deterrent?
A physical barrier, like a well-designed caged feeder or a correctly installed baffle, is the most reliable and long-term solution.

Will magpies eventually go away if I stop feeding birds altogether?
They might visit less, but magpies are territorial. They will stay in the area if they find other food sources, like insects in your lawn. Using deterrents while feeding is often more effective than stopping completely.

Are magpies protected, and is it okay to scare them?
In many places, magpies are protected under wildlife laws. Using humane scare tactics like reflective objects or noise is generally acceptable, but causing them intentional harm or trapping them is not.

Do ultrasonic bird repellents work on magpies?
Evidence is mixed, and many devices are ineffective. Birds adapt quickly to constant sounds. Your money is better spent on physical barriers and feeder modifications, which have a proven track record.

Why do I have so many magpies all of a sudden?
You may have a nearby nest where fledglings have just left, or a reliable food source (like a neighbor’s open compost) has been removed. They are exploring new options, which includes your feeders.

By combining these humane strategies, you can successfully protect your bird feeders from magpies. It takes a bit of patience and experimentation to find the right mix for your garden. Remember, the goal is balance—enjoying the company of songbirds while respecting the magpie’s place in the local environment. With these tips, you can achive a more harmonious backyard for everyone.