Bird brains?

[beagle1]

Why do birds fly into windows? I am sure someone will have asked this before, but cannot find answer. Question is prompted by outbreak of kami kazi pigeons round my house.

[andy hughes]

Because they can't see clear glass. Obvious, but true. Birds who live in the area learn where the windows are in houses in their territory, maybe the pidgeons are newcomers, so in a while the collisions will cease.

[Cetti]

Another reason is they can see their reflection mirrored in the glass and view it as a potential rival, especially during the breeding season when marking out territory, athough in the case of Woodpigeons although brilliant in the air I don't think they've much in the brain department.

Still, if you are very concerned and the situation doesn't improve you can buy a silhouette of a Hawk from the RSPB or other sources and stick it on the window. Apparently this works very well.

[manics_]

Birds usually fly into windows when they feel threatened (ie there is a cat around). They fly towards narrow gaps. For example, between trees, through gaps in hedges, or attempt to fly through windows.

[woofgang]

Not just birds. we got our weimaraner as an adult and she used to bounce off our plate glass french windows until we put stickers at her eye height. Now she understands the concept and knows whether the doors are open or shut and we have removed the stickers. We also get wood pigeons flying into the windows on a regular basis but they seem to bounce off with no harm done. In the summer when the doors are open, they fly straight in to the house and don't seem particularly concerned about that either!