What Do I Do If Birds Are Attacking My Windows?

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If you've ever heard the bang of a bird flying into your window, then you understand how startling the unfortunate incident can be. It will undeniably cause you concern — for the safety and health of the bird as well as the structural integrity of your window. If birds are frequently attacking your exterior glass, you need to figure out why. There are a few reasons for this behavior. For some birds, from Northern cardinals to swallows, breeding season can be a dangerous time if any windows are nearby. When male birds (and less commonly females) see their reflection in the glass, they may mistake it for a rival. They will repeatedly — and often ferociously — attack the reflection, often injuring themselves in the process.

Bird strikes — which include territorial attacks and birds mistaking the reflections in the glass for scenery and becoming spatially disoriented — are one of the two top causes of bird deaths in your yard. According to a 2014 study published in The Condor, these strikes kill at least 100 million and possibly as many as 1 billion birds a year. Birds aren't just fighting their reflections in home windows; they will also lash out at the supposed rivals they see in car windows. To prevent the occurrence of bird strikes, you need to cover the reflective surfaces on your home's exterior. Anything that disrupts the reflection and reduces the transparency works. You should also relocate your bird feeders.

Do you keep hearing repeated loud bangs or finding injured or deceased birds of a certain species underneath your window? The reflective glass of your windows is likely to blame. Common species prone to this behavior include Northern cardinals, American robins, Northern mockingbirds, Eastern bluebirds, Eastern towhees, pileated woodpeckers, and even some swallows. Most are particularly active during spring.

If your home is targeted by birds protecting their turf during breeding season, hang something on the outside of the window, not on the inside. Decals (such as Stickers4 Flock of Birds Double-Sided Window Clings), Cocivivre Adjustable Self-Adhesive Fibreglass Mesh Window Screens, or even old newspapers or sheets of cardboard all work great — though some fixes are obviously more attractive than others. Choose carefully. Some species, like American cardinals, will attack their reflections in glass into mid-summer, so the covering could be up for a while.

Unsure whether bird strikes are happening due to territorial skirmishes or other issues? There are a few additional steps you can take in order to reduce accidents and protect the safety of all your feathered visitors. Always hang or place a bird feeder within 3 feet of a window. While birds may still mistake the glass for more garden, sky, or clear airspace, they won't hit it as hard. To make your window feeder safer for your flying friends, adhere it to the glass pane or attach it to the windowsill.