Please, goldfinch, don’t break my windows!
July 6, 2020 5:07 PM Subscribe
Why is a goldfinch attacking my house?
Hope us, MeFi Ornithologists!
There is a female goldfinch that is continually flying up to (not into) our windows and doors and flailing away at the glass with her wings and, occasionally, her beak. She’ll flail away for a few seconds, then dart away to a nearby railing, I assume to rest. Then, she makes another run at a window or door. Sometimes, she will latch onto the screen with her talons and just sit there. She’s been doing this for most of the week.
At first, I thought she might be seeing her reflection and, thinking it an enemy, attacking it. But, she’s flying all around the house, making runs at windows in full sun, doors in shade, and everything in between. She also goes after our front door, which has no glass in it. Just a screen storm door in front of the solid door. She’s also the only bird in our yard acting this way.
We feel bad for the poor thing, but we don’t know if there’s anything we can do. Like I said, she’s not ramming into the window, just flailing at it.
Any idea what she may be up to?
Hope us, MeFi Ornithologists!
There is a female goldfinch that is continually flying up to (not into) our windows and doors and flailing away at the glass with her wings and, occasionally, her beak. She’ll flail away for a few seconds, then dart away to a nearby railing, I assume to rest. Then, she makes another run at a window or door. Sometimes, she will latch onto the screen with her talons and just sit there. She’s been doing this for most of the week.
At first, I thought she might be seeing her reflection and, thinking it an enemy, attacking it. But, she’s flying all around the house, making runs at windows in full sun, doors in shade, and everything in between. She also goes after our front door, which has no glass in it. Just a screen storm door in front of the solid door. She’s also the only bird in our yard acting this way.
We feel bad for the poor thing, but we don’t know if there’s anything we can do. Like I said, she’s not ramming into the window, just flailing at it.
Any idea what she may be up to?
Some birds do this to collect spiders, or spiders' silk, that are on the house exterior. Does she stay in one place for a long time?
posted by Drosera at 5:36 PM on July 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Drosera at 5:36 PM on July 6, 2020 [1 favorite]
I have no idea why they do it but in my experience changing the appearance of the window eliminated the behavior.
I had a female cardinal behave similarly toward my small basement window and my car windshield this spring at my new place. I parked my car the other way (rotated 180) and put a cardboard box in the window and she stopped.
I personally think it was some kind of bedazzled obsession with glare.
Maybe some masking tape or a decorative appliqué/film would work if those options aren’t available?
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:43 PM on July 6, 2020
I had a female cardinal behave similarly toward my small basement window and my car windshield this spring at my new place. I parked my car the other way (rotated 180) and put a cardboard box in the window and she stopped.
I personally think it was some kind of bedazzled obsession with glare.
Maybe some masking tape or a decorative appliqué/film would work if those options aren’t available?
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:43 PM on July 6, 2020
Is there a way a nest could have fallen into your house? Through a crack, the roof, the fire place etc? She may be trying to get to her babies.
posted by Toddles at 7:56 PM on July 6, 2020
posted by Toddles at 7:56 PM on July 6, 2020
The glare creates a reflection and she's being territorial of this strange, new, impossible to actually fight bird encroaching her territory.
Light colored curtains or blinds can prevent the window mirror affect. Anything dark is just going increase the mirror effect.
The other possibility is that there isnt a glare at all, she just really thinks its mysteriously solid air. Putting bird shaped stickers on the glass will make smaller birds veer away.
You could do both and I bet she'll leave your window alone after that.
posted by ananci at 10:41 PM on July 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
Light colored curtains or blinds can prevent the window mirror affect. Anything dark is just going increase the mirror effect.
The other possibility is that there isnt a glare at all, she just really thinks its mysteriously solid air. Putting bird shaped stickers on the glass will make smaller birds veer away.
You could do both and I bet she'll leave your window alone after that.
posted by ananci at 10:41 PM on July 6, 2020 [2 favorites]
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posted by RichardP at 5:13 PM on July 6, 2020