Why do birds peck at windows?

• Birds see their reflection in the window and think the image is an intruder in their territory.
• Pecking behavior typically occurs in the April to May, but can occur during any nesting season.

Millions of birds are killed each year from injuries sustained after flying into windows. Most strikes occur during migration in spring and fall. The practices listed below will help reduce those unnecessary deaths.

How do I stop birds from pecking at windows?

The key is to prevent the birds from seeing their reflection.

• • Hang objects in front of the window.
  • Add stickers, decals, or labels to the window.
  • Turn on a lamp behind the window or shine a light in front of the window.
  • Close blinds or curtains.
  • Smear the window with dish soap, then spray it off when the nesting season is completed.
  • Cover the window with a semi-transparent film.

Hang objects in front or behind a large window to reduce the window’s reflectivity. Photo by Stephen M. Vantassel.

Additional Resources to Prevent Bird Collisions

Fatal Light Awareness Program–site dealing with the way light interferes with birds both in migration and fatal collisions with windows.

Reducing Bird Collisions with Buildings, US Fish and Wildlife Service (2016)

Bird Collisions with Windows: An Annotated Bibliography, by Chad Seewagen, Dept. or Ornithology, Wildlife Conservation Society. Updated

Project Birdsafe, Minnesota Audubon