Birds Fly Into Windows Attacking Their Own Reflection

Once again this spring, our wildlife staff is answering many phone calls about birds repeatedly flying into windows. This is a common occurrence during mating and nesting season, particularly with cardinals and robins because of their bright colors. What causes this behavior? The bird is seeing its reflection in the window and thinks another bird is invading its territory.

A possible remedy is to tape newspaper or wax paper to the OUTSIDE of the window. This behavior is likely to diminish as each individual bird's breeding season progresses (usually after a few weeks).

This behavior is noted all over the world. This very cool series of photos of a Grey Wagtail confronting its reflection were taken in India this Spring and posted on the Bird Ecology Study Group website. The image is by Ganesh Mani Pradhan & Son.

Our more detailed explanation of the phenomenon can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) section on Lake Erie Nature & Science Center's website. This is such a common occurrence, "There's a bird repeatedly flying into my window, how can I make it stop?" is the number two FAQ on our list.

 

If you need more information, you can call the Kenneth A. Scott Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program at (440) 871-2900 ext 204 between the hours of  10 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week.