Scarecrow Protection Zones in Stardew Valley: Every Tile Explained

Stardew Valley Scarecrow Range Planner

Standard Scarecrow: Protects crops within an 8-tile radius (249 total tiles).

Deluxe Scarecrow: Protects crops within a 16-tile radius (888 total tiles).

Regular Scarecrow
Deluxe Scarecrow
Iridium Sprinkler
Protected Area
Sprinkled Area
Scarecrows Placed:
0
Deluxe Scarecrows:
0
Sprinklers Placed:
0
Protected Tiles:
0
Watered Tiles:
0
Key Information

• A standard scarecrow protects a circular area with an 8-tile radius (249 total tiles).

• A deluxe scarecrow protects a circular area with a 16-tile radius (888 total tiles).

• Iridium sprinklers water a 5×5 area (24 tiles, excluding the center tile).

• Position scarecrows 14-16 tiles apart to ensure no gaps in coverage.

• The Deluxe Scarecrow recipe is unlocked after collecting all 8 rarecrows.

Scarecrow Protection Zones in Stardew Valley: Every Tile Explained

Scarecrow protection in Stardew Valley extends much further than most players realize-each standard scarecrow protects a whopping 249 tiles in a circular pattern, extending 8 tiles in each cardinal direction. Not knowing this exact range is why your crops are getting eaten or why you’ve wasted resources on unnecessary scarecrows. This guide breaks down every aspect of scarecrow coverage, from basic mechanics to optimal placements and advanced strategies with mods. Skip to Optimal Scarecrow Placement for immediate farm layout solutions or continue reading for the complete breakdown.

What Is a Scarecrow and Why You Need One

The peaceful farming life in Stardew Valley has one persistent annoyance: crows. These pesky birds will swoop down and destroy your precious crops if left unprotected. Scarecrows are your first and most important line of defense against these avian invaders.

How Crows Work in Stardew Valley

Understanding crow behavior is essential to effective scarecrow usage:

Understanding these mechanics is crucial-on a large farm with hundreds of crops, inadequate scarecrow coverage will inevitably lead to crop losses and reduced profits.

Basic Scarecrow Crafting and Function

Creating your first scarecrow is simple and should be among your earliest farming priorities:

Crafting Requirements:

You’ll unlock the scarecrow recipe automatically upon reaching Farming Level 1, making it accessible very early in your farming journey.

Once crafted, a scarecrow will:

Many new farmers place scarecrows immediately adjacent to their first crops without realizing how far the protection actually extends. This leads us to our next crucial section-understanding exactly how scarecrow range works.

Basic Scarecrow Range Explained

The in-game description for the scarecrow states it “has a limited radius (about 8 ‘tiles’),” but this deceptively simple description hides some important nuances.

Exact Tile Coverage of Regular Scarecrows

A standard scarecrow protects a circular area of 249 spaces around it. This protection extends:

In more practical terms, a single scarecrow effectively protects a 17×17 tile area, minus 10 tiles in each corner (due to the circular nature of the protection). This creates a distinctive circular pattern when visualized on the farm grid.

To visualize this mathematically:

This is a significant area-enough to protect dozens of crops with just one scarecrow. Understanding this range is the first step to efficient farm planning.

Common Misconceptions About Scarecrow Range

Many players dramatically underestimate scarecrow coverage, leading to some common misconceptions:

Misconception #1: "The 8-tile radius means just the 8 surrounding tiles"

Many players mistakenly believe that scarecrows only protect the immediately adjacent tiles (similar to a quality sprinkler’s range). This leads to massive overuse of scarecrows, with some players placing them every 3-5 tiles!

Misconception #2: "Scarecrows create a square protection zone"

The protection area is distinctly circular, not square. This means that while it extends 8 tiles in cardinal directions, the corners of what would be a 17×17 square are not protected. These gaps can lead to crow attacks if not understood.

Misconception #3: "Rarecrows have better protection ranges"

Standard rarecrows have exactly the same protection radius as regular scarecrows. Their value comes from their unique appearances and their contribution toward unlocking the Deluxe Scarecrow.

Misconception #4: "The protection radius is measured as diameter, not radius"

Some players misinterpret the “8 tiles” description as the full width rather than the radius, leading to insufficient coverage. The actual diameter of protection is 17 tiles (8 tiles in each direction plus the center tile).

These misconceptions often lead to farm layouts crowded with unnecessary scarecrows, wasting valuable crop space and resources that could be better used elsewhere.

Visual Representation of Scarecrow Range

The scarecrow’s protection range forms a distinct circle when overlaid on the farm grid. Here’s how to visualize it:

                  PPPPPPP                  
              PPPPPPPPPPPPP              
            PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP            
          PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP          
        PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP        
       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP       
      PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP      
     PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP     
    PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP    
    PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP    
   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   
   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   
   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP[S]PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   
   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   
   PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP   
    PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP    
    PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP    
     PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP     
      PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP      
       PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP       
        PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP        
          PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP          
            PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP            
              PPPPPPPPPPPPP              
                  PPPPPPP

In this diagram:

The true power of understanding this range becomes apparent when you realize that a single scarecrow can protect hundreds of crops, dramatically reducing the number of scarecrows needed for your farm.

Rarecrows Collection and Benefits

Beyond the standard scarecrow, Stardew Valley offers eight unique “Rarecrows”-collectible scarecrow variants that combine functionality with distinctive aesthetics.

All 8 Rarecrow Types and How to Get Them

Each Rarecrow is obtained through different methods, making the complete collection a satisfying achievement:

Rarecrow #1: Turnip Head

Rarecrow #2: Skeleton

Rarecrow #3: Alien

Rarecrow #4: Snowman

Rarecrow #5: Flower Dancer

Rarecrow #6: Dwarf

Rarecrow #7: Tribal Mask

Rarecrow #8: Witch

Collecting all eight rarecrows isn’t just for completionists-it unlocks something special that dramatically improves your farming efficiency.

Do Rarecrows Have Different Ranges?

A common question among Stardew Valley farmers is whether rarecrows offer enhanced protection compared to standard scarecrows. The simple answer is:

No, all regular rarecrows have exactly the same protection radius (8 tiles) as standard scarecrows.

Their value comes from:

This identical functionality means you can freely use whichever scarecrow designs you prefer without sacrificing crop protection. Many players use a mix of standard scarecrows and rarecrows based on the visual theme of different farm areas.

However, there is a mod called “Deluxe Rarecrows” that changes this behavior, giving all rarecrows the enhanced protection radius of the Deluxe Scarecrow (which we’ll cover in the next section).

Deluxe Scarecrow: The Ultimate Crop Protector

After collecting all eight rarecrows, you unlock the game’s ultimate crop protection tool: the Deluxe Scarecrow.

How to Unlock the Deluxe Scarecrow

To obtain the Deluxe Scarecrow recipe:

  1. Collect all 8 rarecrows (one of each type)
  2. Wait for mail from the “Z.C. Rarecrow Society” (arrives with 90.5% probability each night until delivered)
  3. The letter will contain the crafting recipe

Important Note: Prior to version 1.5, there was a bug where the recipe letter wouldn’t arrive unless you had at least one of each rarecrow somewhere on your farm. This has been fixed, but if you’re playing an older version, make sure your rarecrows are placed on your farm, not stored in chests.

Crafting Requirements:

The requirement for iridium ore makes this an end-game item for most players, as reliable iridium sources typically only become available in later gameplay.

Deluxe Scarecrow Range vs. Regular Scarecrow

The Deluxe Scarecrow dramatically outperforms the standard version:

That’s 3.56 times more coverage from a single scarecrow!

Mathematically, the Deluxe Scarecrow protects:

This massive coverage means that a single Deluxe Scarecrow can protect most small to medium farm areas by itself. For larger farms, just 2-4 strategically placed Deluxe Scarecrows can provide complete coverage.

Is the Deluxe Scarecrow Worth It?

The Deluxe Scarecrow represents one of the best returns on investment in Stardew Valley. Consider these factors:

Resource Efficiency:

Space Efficiency:

Aesthetic Advantages:

Time Investment:

For most players, the Deluxe Scarecrow is absolutely worth the effort to unlock, particularly for mid-to-late game farms where maximizing crop space becomes increasingly important.

There is one technical nuance worth understanding: some farm planning tools incorrectly calculate the Deluxe Scarecrow’s range. The protection is truly circular with a 16-tile radius, not a simple doubling of the visual pattern of the regular scarecrow.

Advanced Scarecrow Placement Strategies

With a clear understanding of scarecrow mechanics, we can now explore optimal placement strategies for maximum efficiency.

Optimal Farm Layouts for Scarecrow Coverage

When designing your farm layout, strategic scarecrow placement is key to maximizing protected crop space while minimizing resources.

Early Game Strategy (1-2 Scarecrows):
For new farms with limited resources, place a single scarecrow centrally in your crop area. Remember that one scarecrow protects a 17×17 area, so even with 100+ crop tiles, you might only need one strategically placed scarecrow.

┌───────────────────────────┐
│                           │
│     ┌───────────────┐     │
│     │               │     │
│     │    Crops      │     │
│     │               │     │
│     │       S       │     │
│     │               │     │
│     │    Crops      │     │
│     │               │     │
│     └───────────────┘     │
│                           │
└───────────────────────────┘

Mid-Game Layout (3-4 Scarecrows):
As your farm expands, a simple grid pattern becomes effective:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                         │
│  ┌─────────┐       ┌─────────┐         │
│  │         │       │         │         │
│  │   S     │       │    S    │         │
│  │         │       │         │         │
│  └─────────┘       └─────────┘         │
│                                         │
│                                         │
│  ┌─────────┐       ┌─────────┐         │
│  │         │       │         │         │
│  │   S     │       │    S    │         │
│  │         │       │         │         │
│  └─────────┘       └─────────┘         │
│                                         │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘

For optimal placement, position scarecrows approximately 16 tiles apart (measured center to center). This creates slight overlap in coverage, ensuring no gaps while minimizing the number of scarecrows needed.

Late-Game Optimization (Deluxe Scarecrows):
With Deluxe Scarecrows, you can protect massive areas with minimal investment:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                                                 │
│                                                 │
│        ┌───────────────────────────┐           │
│        │                           │           │
│        │                           │           │
│        │             DS            │           │
│        │                           │           │
│        │                           │           │
│        └───────────────────────────┘           │
│                                                 │
│                                                 │
│        ┌───────────────────────────┐           │
│        │                           │           │
│        │                           │           │
│        │             DS            │           │
│        │                           │           │
│        │                           │           │
│        └───────────────────────────┘           │
│                                                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Position Deluxe Scarecrows approximately 32 tiles apart for optimal coverage with minimal overlap.

Mathematical Optimization Formula:
For those who want to calculate the exact number of scarecrows needed:

Regular Scarecrows needed = ⌈Crop Area ÷ 249⌉
Deluxe Scarecrows needed = ⌈Crop Area ÷ 888⌉

Where ⌈x⌉ represents rounding up to the nearest whole number.

For irregular farm shapes, add 10-15% more scarecrows to account for non-optimal placement and potential gaps.

Balancing Scarecrows with Sprinklers

One of the most challenging aspects of farm layout design is reconciling the circular coverage pattern of scarecrows with the square pattern of sprinklers.

The Fundamental Mismatch:

Basic Sprinkler + Scarecrow Layout:
For early game with Quality Sprinklers:

S...QQQ...
.........
QQQ.QQQ.QQQ
.........
QQQ.QQQ.QQQ
.........
QQQ.QQQ.QQQ
.........
......S..

Where:

Iridium Sprinkler Optimization:
For mid-to-late game with Iridium Sprinklers:

S........I........I....
.......................
.......................
I.......I.......I.....
.......................
.......................
I.......I.......I.....
.......................
.....S.................
.......................
I.......I.......I.....
.......................
.......................
I.......I.......I.....

Where:

The Sacrifice Principle:
When optimizing a farm layout, you must decide which to prioritize:

Most experienced players prioritize sprinkler efficiency, since:

Advanced Grid Pattern:
For highly optimized layouts, a repeating 5×5 grid of Iridium Sprinklers with strategically placed scarecrows works well:

I....I....I....I....I
...................
...................
I....I....I....I....I
..........S........
...................
I....I....I....I....I
...................
...................
I....I....I....I....I
...................
...................
I....I....I....I....I
........S..........
...................

This creates maximum sprinkler efficiency while still maintaining complete scarecrow coverage.

Scarecrow Placement for Junimo Hut Farms

Late-game farmers often incorporate Junimo Huts-magical structures that automatically harvest crops within a 17×17 tile area (minus the hut’s footprint).

The Junimo Hut Challenge:

Optimal Junimo Hut Layout with Scarecrow Integration:

................I.....I.....I.....
.................................
.................................
I.....I.....I.....I...............
.............JJJJJJJ.............
.............J     J.............
.............J     J.............
I.....I.....I.....I...............
.................................
.................................
I.....I.....I.....I...............
.................S...............
.................................
I.....I.....I.....I...............
.................................
.................................

Where:

Advanced Junimo + Deluxe Scarecrow Setup:
For maximum automation and efficiency, this layout combines Junimo Huts with Deluxe Scarecrows:

I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....
.................................
.................................
I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....
..........JJJJJJJ................
..........J     J................
..........J     J................
I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....
.................................
...............DS.................
.................................
I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....
.................................
.................................
I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....
..........JJJJJJJ................
..........J     J................
..........J     J................
I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....I.....

Where:

This layout maximizes automation through Junimo harvesting while ensuring complete protection from crows with minimal resource expenditure.

For those seeking absolute optimization, a farm layout with four Junimo Huts arranged in a square pattern with a single centrally-placed Deluxe Scarecrow provides near-total automation and protection with minimal infrastructure.

Mods for Better Scarecrow Management

While understanding scarecrow mechanics is invaluable, several mods can dramatically improve your ability to visualize and optimize scarecrow coverage.

Range Highlight Mod Tutorial

The Range Highlight mod is a simple yet powerful tool that visually displays the protection range of scarecrows (and other items) directly in your game.

Installation Steps:

  1. Install SMAPI: The Stardew Valley mod loader (if you don’t already have it)

    • Download from smapi.io
    • Run the installer and follow the prompts

  2. Download Range Highlight Mod:

    • Get the latest version from Nexus Mods
    • Download manually or use a mod manager like Vortex

  3. Install the Mod:

    • Extract the downloaded file into your Stardew Valley/Mods folder
    • The path should look like: Stardew Valley/Mods/RangeHighlight/

  4. Launch the Game:

    • Start Stardew Valley through SMAPI
    • The mod will load automatically

Using Range Highlight:

Once installed, the mod offers several ways to visualize coverage:

Configuration Options:

The mod creates a config.json file in its directory with several customizable settings:

{
  "ScarecrowHighlightColor": "105, 162, 80, 90",
  "SprinklerHighlightColor": "80, 105, 162, 90",
  "BombHighlightColor": "162, 80, 105, 90",
  "BeehouseHighlightColor": "162, 162, 80, 90",
  "JunimoHutHighlightColor": "131, 80, 162, 90",
  "MushroomLogHighlightColor": "137, 98, 65, 90",
  "ShowScarecrowRangeKey": "LeftShift",
  "ShowSprinklerRangeKey": "LeftControl",
  "ShowBombRangeKey": "None",
  "ShowBeehouseRangeKey": "None",
  "ShowJunimoHutRangeKey": "None",
  "ShowMushroomLogRangeKey": "None",
  "ToggleShowRangesOnKeyPress": false,
  "ShowInnerBombRange": true,
  "ShowOuterBombRange": true,
  "ShowTickingBombRange": true,
  "ShowOtherSprinklerRangesWhilePlacingSprinkler": true,
  "ShowOtherScarecrowRangesWhilePlacingScarecrow": true,
  "ShowOtherBeehouseRangesWhilePlacingBeehouse": false,
  "ShowOtherMushroomLogRangesWhilePlacingMushroomLog": false
}

To modify the configuration:

  1. Close Stardew Valley
  2. Open config.json in any text editor
  3. Adjust settings as desired
  4. Save the file and restart the game

This mod is particularly valuable for visualizing the overlap between multiple scarecrows and identifying any gaps in coverage that might leave crops vulnerable.

UI Info Suite 2 for Range Visualization

UI Info Suite 2 is a comprehensive UI enhancement mod that includes scarecrow range visualization among many other quality-of-life improvements.

Installation Steps:

  1. Install SMAPI (if not already installed)

  2. Download UI Info Suite 2:

    • The latest version is available at GitHub
    • Note: Do not use the Nexus Mods version as it’s currently outdated

  3. Install the Mod:

    • Extract to your Stardew Valley/Mods folder
    • The path should be: Stardew Valley/Mods/UIInfoSuite2/

  4. Launch the Game:

    • Start Stardew Valley through SMAPI
    • Access settings via the gear icon on the title screen

Key Features for Scarecrow Management:

UI Info Suite 2 offers several features relevant to scarecrow usage:

Configuration:

The mod adds a new tab to the game’s options menu where you can toggle individual features:

  1. Open the game menu
  2. Select the “Mod Options” tab
  3. Navigate to UI Info Suite 2 settings
  4. Enable or disable “Show Scarecrow Range” and related options

One advantage of UI Info Suite 2 over the standalone Range Highlight mod is its integration with other useful features:

For players who want a comprehensive improvement to Stardew Valley’s interface, UI Info Suite 2 offers scarecrow visualization as part of a complete package of enhancements.

Deluxe Rarecrows Mod for Enhanced Gameplay

For players who love collecting rarecrows but find the standard protection radius limiting, the Deluxe Rarecrows mod offers an interesting solution.

What the Mod Does:

The Deluxe Rarecrows mod upgrades all 8 rarecrows to have the same protection radius as the Deluxe Scarecrow (16 tiles instead of 8). This happens either:

Installation Steps:

  1. Install SMAPI and Content Patcher:

  2. Download Deluxe Rarecrows:

  3. Install the Mod:

    • Extract to Stardew Valley/Mods folder
    • Path should be: Stardew Valley/Mods/DeluxeRarecrows/

  4. Configure (Optional):

    • Open config.json in a text editor
    • Set “AlwaysDeluxeRarecrows” to true if you want immediate effect

Gameplay Impact:

This mod significantly changes the balance of scarecrow collection and usage:

For players who have invested time in collecting rarecrows and feel they should offer more practical benefit, this mod provides a balanced enhancement without feeling overpowered.

Compatibility Notes:

The mod works well with visualization mods like Range Highlight and UI Info Suite 2-they will correctly display the enhanced protection radius. However, some farm planner websites or tools may not account for this modified behavior.

Troubleshooting Scarecrow Issues

Even with proper placement, sometimes crops still get eaten. Here’s how to diagnose and fix common scarecrow-related problems.

Why Crops Still Get Eaten with Scarecrows

If crows are attacking despite your scarecrow placement, consider these common causes:

1. Crops Outside Protection Radius
The most common issue is simply having crops planted outside the protection range. Remember that:

2. Gaps Between Scarecrow Coverage
When using multiple scarecrows, small gaps can form if they’re placed too far apart. Ideal placement for regular scarecrows is 16 tiles apart (center to center) to ensure complete coverage with slight overlap.

3. Crops on Different Map Levels
Scarecrows only protect crops on the same elevation level. If your farm has multiple tiers or platforms, ensure each level has its own scarecrow protection.

4. Exceeding the Crow Spawn Cap
While rare, very large farms with hundreds of crops can occasionally see crow attacks even with proper scarecrow coverage. This is due to the game spawning multiple crows simultaneously, some of which may bypass protection.

5. Mistaking Other Crop Damage for Crow Attacks
Not all crop disappearance is due to crows:

Verification Test: To confirm whether your scarecrow coverage is working properly, plant a small test area of crops just outside what you believe is the protection radius and observe for a few days. If only those crops get eaten, your scarecrow range understanding is correct.

Fixing Gaps in Scarecrow Coverage

To ensure complete protection for your crops, follow these steps to identify and fix coverage gaps:

1. Visual Inspection with Mods
The easiest solution is to use Range Highlight or UI Info Suite 2 to visualize coverage areas directly. This immediately reveals any gaps in protection.

2. Manual Mapping Method (No Mods)
Without mods, you can manually map coverage:

3. The Overlap Strategy
When placing multiple scarecrows, aim for approximately 10-15% overlap in coverage areas:

4. Strategic Placement for Irregular Fields
For oddly-shaped fields:

5. The Risk Minimization Approach
If perfect coverage is challenging due to farm layout:

Special Cases: Ginger Island and Special Crops

Some farming situations have unique considerations regarding scarecrow protection:

Ginger Island: No Scarecrows Needed

The tropical farm on Ginger Island is completely immune to crow attacks, regardless of how many crops you plant. This is an intentional game design choice that makes the island farm particularly valuable. You can:

Wild Seeds Immunity

Crops grown from Wild Seeds (Spring, Summer, Fall, or Winter variants) have a special immunity to crow attacks. These wilderness plants are naturally resistant to birds and never require scarecrow protection.

This makes wild seed crops ideal for:

Greenhouse Special Case

The farm greenhouse is completely protected from crow attacks by default. No scarecrows are required inside the greenhouse, regardless of how many crops you plant there.

Mixed Farming Considerations

For mixed farming operations combining crops, animals, and artisan goods:

Understanding these special cases allows for more efficient resource allocation and farm planning, ensuring you only use scarecrows where they’re actually needed.

Action Steps Recap

  1. Use the circular 8-tile radius (249 protected tiles) for regular scarecrows and 16-tile radius (888 protected tiles) for Deluxe Scarecrows when planning your farm layout.
  2. Install Range Highlight or UI Info Suite 2 mods to visualize protection ranges directly in-game.
  3. Position scarecrows 14-16 tiles apart for optimal coverage with minimal gaps.
  4. Collect all 8 rarecrows to unlock the Deluxe Scarecrow recipe for maximum protection efficiency.
  5. Remember that Ginger Island, greenhouses, and wild seed crops never need scarecrow protection.

Further Resources

Scarecrow Patch History

Version Date Change Impact on Scarecrow Range
1.4 Nov 26, 2019 Introduction of the Deluxe Scarecrow Added a new craftable scarecrow with double the protection radius (16 tiles)
1.5 Dec 21, 2020 Bug fix for Deluxe Scarecrow recipe Fixed issue where recipe letter wouldn’t be sent if player didn’t have all rarecrows placed on farm
1.6 Mar 19, 2024 No direct scarecrow changes General performance improvements affecting all farm structures
1.6.15 Dec 20, 2024 Performance optimizations Improved overall game performance which may affect farm planning tools