How to Stop a Bird From Tapping at My Window

When an intruder barges into a wild bird's territory, its first instinct is to fight that offender. In some cases, however, the bird doesn't realize the enemy it's pecking away at isn't really there. Birds have a hard time differentiating reflections in glass from reality, and so they often attack windows to fight off what they perceive to be a threat, which leads to headaches for the homeowners whose windows are under assault. To solve this problem, remove items that draw birds close to windows, reduce your windows' reflective properties and cut the birds off from windows altogether.

Things You'll Need

Cloth or painter's tape
Mesh netting

Instructions

- 1
  Move man-made attractions like bird baths or feeders at least 25 to 30 feet away from windows.
- 2
  Eliminate natural perches near problem windows. Watch to see if the bird likes to sit on a particular plant, tree branch or other object while it taps the window. If it does, cover or remove that object to discourage the bird from perching in that area.
- 3
  Close your curtains and blinds during the day. This helps make your windows less reflective so birds don't attempt to fight themselves.
- 4
  Use external materials to make your glass less reflective. Cut out 1-inch-long strips of white cloth or tape and place them vertically on the outside of your window 4 inches apart across the window's surface. These strips help wild birds discern the reflection from reality and can prevent territorial window strikes. You can also apply standard window decals the same distance apart and they will have a similar effect. Additionally, you can purchase several different commercial products made specifically to make windows less reflective to birds.
- 5
  Create a barrier between the bird and the window. Cover the outside of the window with thin mesh netting or any type of screen. This can both break up the window's reflection and prevent birds from pecking at the glass.