Dept. Forestry and Natural Resources
715 W. State Street
W. Lafayette, IN 47907
(765) 494-3590
FAX: (765) 494-9461

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Blackbirds

Blackbirds and grackles will damage corn early in the vegetative stages of development as well as during the reproductive stages. Bird damage to corn can occur throughout a corn field, and is not necessarily concentrated along the edges. Birds have a poor sense of smell and cannot easily find buried seeds; thus, bird damage to recently emerged corn may be confused with that caused by squirrels and vice versa.

Learn more about bird damage.

Birds will dig around a seedling with their bill. The damage will look very similar to digging by chipmunk and mice. However, with bird damage, entire seedlings may be pulled from the ground and the resulting hole will generally be shallower than those dug by mammals. (top of page)
During drier conditions and in fields with soils of high clay content, seedlings often are broken off by birds. Broken seedlings generally leave the plant growing point intact, thus the corn plant will continue to grow and develop. (top of page)
During the reproductive stages of corn development, blackbirds peel the husks from the tip of the ear back towards the base in very thin strips. They are not able to grab and pull large sections of husk because of their small bill size. The husks of corn ears damaged by birds often are described as having a “firecracker” appearance because they have an exploded look to them. (top of page)
During the milk and blister stages, birds peck out the kernels and leave a cup-shaped shell. (top of page)