Finch at the Window

[smurfchops]

A lovely little finch keeps flying against our windows, stopping in the ledge and looking in as if he is almost tame, flying and hitting his beak and flying away and back again. . Can he see a reflection in the glass, is he trying to mate? He has been doing it for almost two hours this morning, since seven a.m. I feel so sorry for him! He doesn't seem to be hurting himself, just hitting his beak a bit.

[Outdoorsman]

Oh dear, it's that time of year again! He's probably a youngster in his first year - and he's trying to scare off what he thinks is a rival. It happens a lot here in Southwest Yorkshire. Try and discourage him by putting something non-reflective up at your windows - on the outside, but with a rectangular viewing section cut out. The finch probably has a nest site in mind, nearby.

Tom...

[smurfchops]

He's been here three hours now - none the worse for wear thank goodness, and looking in the windows, I am looking at him now peeking in. It seems to help when I shut the curtains.

[Danni79]

I know this sounds silly but have you checked the window to see if there are any insects around it? we had a bluetit doing a similar thing and it turned out it was eating baby spiders from around the window!!! x x

[smurfchops]

I thought of that, but no, he's not looking for food, just peeking in the windows and flying against them and hitting the window with his beak. I have had to keep the curtains shut all day - he keeps coming back !

[logman]

Avian head banging can easily be avoided by sticking a stcker of a bird a prey on the inside of the window pain, whick acts as a good deterant. You can buy the siloetts from the RSPB or maybe your local petfood store..

[WendyS]

Does the finch have a ring on its leg? If so, if could possibly be an escapee from a local aviary. We had an escaped siskin acting in this way a year ago, It was so tame we could almost walk out into the garden and touch him. Sadly, the weather was bitterly cold and despite putting lots of food out for him on the birdtable, one day he just suddenly disappeared. I suspect it's the reflection which is causing the problem and keeping your curtains drawn temporarily may be the only solution, annoying though it is.

[smurfchops]

logman, he is here now Monday morning 8.30am. as I have a lot of windows at the front, is there a cheaper alternative? If I close the curtains upstairs, he goes downstairs, and I have a very fast cat. I see him flying into the tree opposite and I think he has a mate there. He seems fine, but I am worried he will hurt himself. WendyS No there is no ring on him. Will he go away eventually? He can definitely see his reflection.

[smurfchops]

Everyone say aaaah ..

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/2267/finch0012oj.jpg

See how sweet he is? Been here for two days now.

[gessoo]

Ah bless - a dear little chaffinch! I often have little birds that do this on my windows. I just presumed they were fascinated by their reflection thinking it was another bird. NIce photo Judiewudie.

[gessoo]

PS I don't he will hurt himself - he is aware now of the glass and won't fly into it.

[smurfchops]

I have started gently banging on the window (if such a thing is possible, you know what I mean) as I would like to discourage him, firstly in case he hurts himself and secondly because of my mad cat. Fingers crossed he will get tired soon and go away.

[logman]

judiewudie, It was'nt me who suggested closing your curtains, I think that would give him an even better image of himself !

I've been watching the chafinches in my own garden and noted how agresive they can be when a rival male comes on the scene..

[WendyS]

Lovely photo. And yes, he's definitely a male chaffinch. Probably a 17 year old teenager in human terms who definitely thinks he's quite something ! I guess reality will hit him soon once he gets a mate and his Mrs. starts keeping him occupied with nest building and feeding all the babies !! So let him enjoy his brief period of preening while he can !!

[smurfchops]

As mentioned earlier, it does help if the curtains are drawn. How long do they do this before they give up? It seems to happen more when the sun is shining on the windows - in the mornings.