Why Are Birds Attacking
My Windows?

By Richard Worden


Have you ever sat quietly in your home, startled by the sound of a bird flying into or repeatedly pecking at your window? One bird may do this multiple times daily, with each aggressive attack lasting between 10 and 20 minutes. This behavior can last for weeks, and you cannot help but wonder why birds are attacking your windows.

Birds attack windows because they think their reflection is a challenger invading their territory. The aggression usually occurs during the breeding season. While it is not outrightly harmful, it distracts birds from regular activities, such as nesting, and consumes their valuable energy.

Birds pecking at or attacking windows is disruptive for both humans and themselves. Most likely, you are here looking for answers to the frequently asked question - why are birds attacking my windows? Learn more about the unusual behavior and how to prevent it here.

why are birds attacking my windows


Why Birds Attack Windows

Bird attacks on windows are mainly territorial and occur during the breeding season. When a bird selects its nesting site, it also takes up the surrounding area as its territory and defends it forcefully. 

Bird territory sizes vary depending on the available resources and the bird species. They can be as small as a backyard for a typical songbird or as big as 17 acres for a couple of black-capped chickadees.

Some birds are naturally territorial and aggressive. So when they accidentally see their image on a window within their territory, they misinterpret it as a rival and attack to scare the trespasser away. 

As a response to the perceived ‘threat’, the bird might peck at the reflection, fly against it, thrash it with wings, or scratch it with its sharp talons. The bird may also adopt threat postures and aggressive poses in front of the image in between attacks. 

Generally, these actions are harmless. Still, they can exhaust the bird and leave it vulnerable to predators and threats like malnutrition and disease. The behavior may continue during the breeding season in spring and often stops when the birds relocate to a new site to rear the next brood.

How To Prevent Birds From Hitting My Windows

Now that we’ve answered the hugely popular question, ‘why are birds attacking my windows?’ It’s time to look at ways to prevent these often harmless but highly annoying attacks.   

The most effective ways to prevent birds from hitting your windows are the same ones that stop bird-window collisions. The goal is to remove the reflection, so birds do not feel threatened by non-existent rivals.

1. Remove the Reflections

Birds attack windows when they see their reflection and mistake it for a rival. Here are different ways to remove the reflection from your windows:

  • Stick newspaper or brightly colored paper to the window: The papers will distract the birds and obscure their vision. However, it will significantly reduce the natural light coming into your house. It is an excellent option if your area has numerous other homes. The bird will discover another window to attack, and you can perhaps remove the papers.
  • Install screens to the window exteriors: Window screens are mesh frames designed to keep leaves and bugs out of your house when the windows are open. They also prevent birds from seeing their reflection and pecking at your windows. Get mesh screens that birds cannot clip with their beaks, and they will give up after the first few failed attempts.
  • Hang a drop cloth over the window: Hang a shade cloth, curtain fabric, or old sheet over the exterior surface of your window to keep the reflection out and the light flowing in. Stick it using double-sided tape or hang it on the frame with small nails. Also, the wavy motion of the cloth in the wind will deter birds because they distrust abrupt or unpredictable movement.
  • Cover your windows with film: Patterned window film, mosaic and stained glass improve your house's aesthetics and reduce reflections. Check out this Rabbitgoo Window Cling (available on Amazon.com) that creates rainbow visual effects when the sun shines on your windows.

2. Block the Flight Paths

Placing things to block the birds’ flight path will significantly deter birds from attacking your windows.

  • Place potted plants on the window sill: Put some plants or flowers on your window sill to stop birds from perching and to distract them from looking at the glass as they fly past. 
  • Hang rope: Hang several strands of string over your windows at a distance measuring the length of the bird attacking your window. The cord will interfere with the bird’s flight path and change the image it responds to without affecting lighting. 
  • Hang a flag or a windsock: When the wind blows, the flag or windsock will move with it. The erratic motions will frighten birds from approaching the window. A windsock is an excellent option if one window is constantly under attack. Still, it may not work well if your area is not particularly windy.
  • Inflate and hang balloons: Blow up some balloons and place them on the inside of the window or hang them from the window sill, whichever is more effective. Draw faces on the balloons to confuse the birds further. 
  • Install shutters: You can install window shutters and keep them closed during the daytime. They are also helpful in hot areas because they keep the heat out when closed. They also scare birds away when they are open and flapping in the wind.
  • Hang wind chimes: Wind chimes will scare birds away with the sounds they make when they move. They are excellent if the target window is on a porch with plenty of space for a wind chime. This beautifully designed UpBlend Outdoors Wind Chime (available on Amazon.com) will fill your patio, garden, or backyard with soft, deep tones of relaxing sounds.

Learn More General 8


Are there other areas in your garden or home that you'd like to repel birds from? I have a page full of articles that offer great ways to repel birds from specific areas. 

3. Use Decoys

Decoys are an effective method of scaring birds away from your windows.

  • Put a decoy owl on your window sill: Get a decoy owl and place it on the sill outside your window to scare off birds. Keep shifting its position every few days to prevent birds from familiarizing themselves with the statue. Look at this weatherproof and durable Besmon Plastic Owl Sculpture (available on Amazon.com) that you can place indoors and outdoors to scare off birds. 
  • Create and hang a bird of prey mobile on the window: Print and cut out pictures of birds of prey and place them inside your window. Search for eagle silhouette, falcon silhouette, or hawk silhouette. These mobiles will give an impression of a predator and scare away birds.
  • Stick window decals: Buy and stick window decals in the shape of birds of prey inside your windows. Birds will avoid the windows if they think a predator is nearby. Check out these MESINURS Anti-collision Window Decals (available on Amazon.com) that are durable with a self-adhesive backing that will stick perfectly on your window’s smooth glass surface.
  • Layer aluminum foil around the window: Stick a piece of aluminum foil along the window sill’s length and a sheet on the inside. The sheet will reflect light on the birds and stop them from going near the window. Also, the texture and noise of the foil will scare any bird that tries to perch on the window sill.

4. Remove the Launch Pad

Often, a bird will only notice its reflection and launch an attack from a specific position, such as a railing or a branch. Removing the perch or making it inaccessible will stop the bird from spotting the irritating reflection.

So if you find yourself asking-  ‘why are birds attacking my windows?’ Chances are you’ve unknowingly created an ideal environment for them to perch. 

As such, you should remove the branch or place hanging baskets and plant pots on railings to prevent birds from perching. Also, move bird feeders and birdhouses away from your house or remove them altogether. 

The birds will not attack windows if they do not see any reflection. They will also feel safer in an environment free of agitating images.

Why Are Birds Attacking My Windows ...Conclusion

Watching a bird attack its reflection persistently can be disquieting. It is also stressful and exhausting for the bird.  

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to prevent birds from launching these unwarranted attacks. 

While you can improvise by removing reflections, you can also block the flight paths, use decoys and remove the launch pad.

Repel Birds From These Areas Too...

Our helpful pages here show you how


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About Me


About the Author...

Richard Worden, a dedicated bird lover for over 20 years, I love to share my in-depth knowledge and passion for birds. Read more About Me and my expertise in this field.



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