Why do birds fly into windows? The truth is kind of sad

There's a lot you can do to keep neighborhood birds from flying into windows

By Rebekkah Adams July 19, 2022

Watching birds from the windows is one of the many perks of living near wildlife: we can stay warm and gaze out on the flocks that frequent our feeders. But sadly, these windows that allow us to view the outdoors can harm the creatures in it. Animals experience the world differently from us, and they see differently, too. Therefore, it’s important to take steps to make your windows visible to birds (and other fauna) in order to help spare them from unnecessary death or injury. But why do birds fly into windows? We’ll explain what the problem is and also give you some advice on how to prevent it. With a few simple tricks, you’ll still get to enjoy the bird show and keep them from getting hurt.

Contents

Why do birds fly into windows?
How do windows harm birds?
What do I do if a bird hits my window and dies?
What can I do to protect the birds from my windows?
How can I keep the birds of my neighborhood safe?

Bird takes flight off a branch in slow motion — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Why do birds fly into windows?

Turn off the lights inside and go out during the early morning to look at your windows. You’ll likely see a dim version of your own yard reflected back to you. While it only gives you a moment’s pause, birds don’t understand that a plant can show up in a piece of glass but not really be there. Unfortunately, this means when they fly into your windows, they’re actually trying to get into the trees. That’s because there’s a wide-open sky in the panes of your home welcoming the avians of your area.

Bird perches on a window feeder — Image used with permission by copyright holder

How do windows harm birds?

Luckily, many, even most, birds who fly into windows wind up being just fine. A glancing blow might just give them the dizzies for a minute. If you hear that telltale crunch, go ahead and check it out. You should stay a few feet back while assessing since some birds want to get up and hop away to recover in a safe spot on their own. If they make a break for it, let them be. However, if you find a stunned bird or one with a broken wing, you can step in and help, provided you follow all laws.

Birds flock around feeder in yard — Image used with permission by copyright holder

What do I do if a bird hits my window and dies?

While many birds do survive a brush with glass, about a billion die each year from running into windows, mostly because there are a lot of windows in the world. If it’s clear the bird is dead, you can decide just to leave it and let nature take its course. However, you can also choose to bury the bird but check your local zoning laws as some prohibit this. Many choose to remove the bird from inside a fenced-in area to discourage predators from coming too close to the home, or the bird getting picked up by a pet. You can place the bird in a nearby open field or wooded area to allow it to decompose naturally.

Decal on window to help prevent birds from running into it — Image used with permission by copyright holder

What can I do to protect the birds from my windows?

First, identify the windows that are most likely to cause problems. Many parts of your house stay in a shadow or aren’t on a flight path, so they will never tempt a bird. By taking care of the worst offenders, you can prevent dozens of collisions and save countless birdies. The easiest way to fix the problem is by putting screens and decals on the outside of the window. Remember that putting them on the inside doesn’t do the trick – birds will still see the reflection of vegetation in the glass and get into trouble. Make sure to put up enough and to space them close together. Check out the American Bird Conservancy list to find a safe and effective product.

On top of fixing existing windows, keep birds in mind any time you decide to do new construction. Even a garage, greenhouse, or shed can be a hazard if it’s placed in a particularly popular location. Some really cool designs work toward preventing windows from ever appealing to birds in the first place. Take a look through this handy guide for more details.

How can I keep the birds of my neighborhood safe?

Once you’ve covered your house, feel free to pass along extra decals to the neighbors and encourage other bird-safe practices. Remember that pets account for an even higher death toll for wild birds than windows. But these animals can exist in harmony. Keep your dogs and cats indoors or contained and monitored outside and avoid nesting areas on walks, especially during the spring. You can also train many dogs to leave wildlife alone.

Don’t despair over all the birds who might hit your windows. Instead, use this inspiration to make a world occupied by humans safer for these natural creatures. Often, a few simple steps will change everything for flyers but won’t have any negative impact on your life and allow you to enjoy birdwatching even more. Go a step further and champion legislation that keeps birds top of mind and protects and preserves them at all times.

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Topics

Birds

Contributor

Rebekkah’s been a writer and editor for more than 10 years, both in print and digital. In addition to writing about pets…

Other animals

Try out these 6 different kinds of best bird feeders to attract your feathered friends

House finch eats at nyger feeder

Bird feeders come in multiple shapes and sizes because birds do, too. Each feeder accommodates a different feeding style, and many are enticing to a particular species. Before setting up your feeders, think first about what kinds of flyers you want to attract — and which ones are likely to oblige. Then, once you have a good bird-watching list, scout out the right locations and the best feeders to attract them. You can put out all these for the widest array of visitors or focus on a few types and get the best setup for just those eaters. Here are the six best bird feeders and what feathered friends you'll probably see feeding at them.

What are the different types of bird feeders?
You probably have a bunch of different dishes in your home — plates, bowls, maybe a gravy boat. Our avian guests have the same needs. After all, some birds eat seeds, some animal fat, some flowers, and some nectar. Take a look through these top types and figure out which one — or ones — belong in your yard.
Hummingbird feeders
Putting up a hummingbird feeder all but ensures you'll add a splash of color to your life. This one will bring in gorgeous birds and look nice in the window. Of course, the drawback is that you need to clean it often by hand. Don't worry: A little soap and water will do the trick, and its glass construction means it will last a long time. Feeding hummingbirds saves your wallet, too, since you can make all the food yourself. Boil 1 part sugar and 4 parts water to create this concoction and refrigerate any left over right away. It'll take your neighborhood birds a minute to find their new restaurant, but once they've discovered it (and given a rave review to their friends), you'll never run out of visitors, provided you keep the food flowing.
Hopper feeders
This is a classic bird feeder that adorns nearly every yard at one time or another. You'll get large birds — and probably large squirrels — as regulars at this one. Try hanging it from a strategic spot or mounting it on a pole to avoid squirrels, but that might be a losing battle. Instead, focus on attracting the birds you do like with the proper seed for them (don't forget to keep it full). We suspect you'll spot a menagerie here, especially jays and cardinals since it's welcoming to bigger animals. Unlike the hummingbird feeder, you won't bring this one indoors often, and should make sure it's reachable by hose or bucket for proper cleaning.
Tube feeders
The smaller birds of the community will thank you for this tube feeder, as the little perches and openings go well with tiny feet and beaks. Watch for a mix of sparrows, chickadees, and titmice who enjoy having a spot of their own, and look at purchasing a blend that encourages them. However, a small feeder means you have to fill it regularly. It might take a few weeks, but you should get an idea of how often the birds start begging for a refill. Finding a spot can prove tricky because you never know when the guests of honor will alight on the other side. Place it between windows to best see every angle.

Other animals

Myth or fact: throwing uncooked rice will hurt birds (you might guess wrong)

Sparrows eat rice out of a man's hand

Everyone knows of a few things that pets can't eat: cats and lilies, dogs and chocolate, birds and rice. Or wait, is that actually a problem? Is rice bad for birds? While you may have been to a wedding where the classic tradition was replaced with a bag of Feathered Friend, that might in fact not be necessary. After all, our happy singers eat other seeds and grains with no problems all the time. So can birds eat rice and how would you feed it to them? Here's what you need to know about offering a snack to your little birds.

Can birds eat uncooked rice?
The myth goes that you can't feed birds uncooked rice because it will absorb all the water in their stomachs and kill them. Depending on who you heard it from, you may even get the version where it causes them to explode by cooking inside their stomachs. One minute, they're eating a grain of white rice and the next it has blown up to many times its size and taking the bird with it. It sounds a little out there, and it should give you pause cause it's not true. Remember that when you make rice on the stove you boil it at 212 degrees; if a bird's stomach was that hot, it would have much bigger problems. Plus, keep in mind that seeds and other grains like corn and grasses are all bird food. In the wild, many birds eat rice as well and they certainly don't blow up because of it.
Can birds eat cooked rice?
Yup, just as with uncooked rice, cooked rice is also fine for our backyard visitors. Some species like pigeons and doves will enjoy it a lot and it works well for them in winter especially (when they want easy-access, filling food). It doesn't really matter what type you go for as birds won't notice the difference between short vs long grain. The one thing you need to consider closely is that the meal should be totally unseasoned. That means no salt or other spices, not even herbs. Lastly, don't give the birds warm food since you won't want them eating something fresh out of the pot, but otherwise, they'll certainly enjoy sharing your meal when you have stir fry for dinner.

Other animals

Guinea pig purring is cute, and we now know why they do it

Two guinea pigs sit in an enclosure and eat hay

Bringing home your first guinea pig comes with all sorts of firsts. You get to watch him popcorn (jump up and down), chatter obsessively, and even purr. That's right, your little guy will sometimes channel his inner cat to express a wide variety of feelings. That requires you to do a bit of sleuthing and determine the cause for his purring, as it won't necessarily be apparent what he's trying to communicate. Still, with a little practice, you'll learn his language. So what does it mean when guinea pigs purr? It all depends on context.

Why does my guinea pig make a purring noise?
You'll get a lot of noises from your piggy, including purring, screaming, wheeking, chutting, hissing, and chattering. Some of these are distinctly good, like wheeking, which means your buddy is anticipating something enjoyable, like a meal. On the flip side, hissing is bad—same with chattering, surprisingly a negative thing. Purring, on the other hand, can signal either happiness and contentment or fear and stress. So you'll have to determine how your guinea pig is feeling by sussing out what's going on at the moment and by learning his individual cues.
Is guinea pig purring good or bad?
Let's break down those indicators to your piggy's present mood. The first thing to listen for is pitch. While a low-pitched purr often indicates happiness, a high-pitched note usually means that your buddy is annoyed. Also, listen for whether the sound is a short and clipped noise (bad) or a long and drawn-out, feline-like murmur (good). Unfortunately, you might get either while you pet your piggy, which is why you should also observe his body language. Check if he's lying down and relaxed or frozen in place, waiting for his escape. It's not a lot to go on, true, but with a little practice, you'll get better at picking up on what he's putting down.
What is my guinea pig telling me when he purrs?
So now you know how to determine whether your guinea pig's purr is a good thing or a bad thing, but that doesn't explain what he's specifically trying to tell you. These small creatures may be prey animals, but sometimes guinea pigs makes this particular sound as a warning to back off. It's less likely than a hiss to precede a bite, though it can mean that your buddy wants to stop playing. It could also indicate that something is causing your piggy stress, like a change in environment or the presence of a predator animal. Don't be surprised if you hear a purr when the family dog sneaks into the room (which is part of the reason we recommend keeping these species separate). However, a guinea pig snuggling in your lap who purrs away while drifting in and out of sleep is definitely content. He's telling you to keep it up.