Stop Birds Hitting Windows: Dot Markers, Tape, and Feeder Placement

Birds hit windows because glass reflects sky and trees or shows a clear path straight through. The fix that works is breaking up the outside surface of the glass with markers spaced no more than 2 inches apart, such as dot markers, collision tape, or dense decal patterns, or by covering the glass with exterior screens. A single hawk silhouette does very little. Also move feeders either within 3 feet of the window or more than 30 feet away.

Why it happens

Birds read reflections of sky and branches as open space. Corner windows, glass railings, and windows on opposite walls that show a straight line through the house are the worst. Strikes peak during spring and fall migration, but feeder windows see collisions all winter as birds flush suddenly from predators.

Find your problem windows

Stand in the yard where birds approach and look at the glass. If you see a clear reflection of trees, sky, or your feeders, birds see it too. Signs of strikes include smudges or feather prints on the glass and stunned birds below the same window. Start with those windows rather than treating every pane in the house.

What works

• Exterior dot markers or tape. Small dots or squares applied to the outside of the glass in a grid no wider than about 2 inches by 2 inches. Many products are nearly invisible from inside.
• Dense decal patterns. Decals work only when spaced at that same 2-inch rule. A few scattered stickers leave plenty of gaps birds try to fly through.
• Exterior insect screens or netting set a few inches off the glass. Screens also soften impacts.
• Paracord or string curtains hung on the outside about 4 inches apart.
• Exterior awnings or shutters that shade and cut reflection.

Markers must go on the outside of the glass. Inside decals do little because the reflection forms on the exterior surface.

Fixes that disappoint

• One hawk or owl silhouette. Birds fly around it and into the open glass beside it.
• Decals inside the glass. The reflection forms on the outside surface, so inside stickers stay hidden by it in bright light.
• Widely spaced UV decals. They help a little but still leave large gaps unless spaced tightly.
• Closing blinds. This can reduce see-through paths but does not remove the outside reflection.

Feeder placement

• Within 3 feet of the glass: birds leaving the feeder cannot build up enough speed to be hurt. Suction-cup window feeders fit here and give great views.
• More than 30 feet away: birds have room to see the house as a solid object.
• Avoid the middle distances between about 3 and 30 feet in front of a reflective window. Birds flushing from feeders there hit the glass at full speed.
• Add a squirrel baffle to pole feeders at whichever distance you choose.

Planting near windows

Shrubs and trees planted close to the glass break up reflections and give birds cover, but those same plants show up in the reflection farther away. Pair any new bird-friendly plantings near the house with markers. Our list of native plants for birds and our guide to attracting hummingbirds both suggest good shrubs.

If a bird hits the glass

1. Gently place a stunned bird in a small ventilated box lined with a soft cloth.
2. Keep the box closed, in a dark, quiet, room-temperature spot away from pets.
3. Do not offer food or water.
4. Check after an hour or two outdoors by opening the box. Most birds fly off once recovered.
5. If the bird cannot fly after a few hours or is visibly injured, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Wash your hands after handling any wild bird.

Bottom line

Mark the outside of problem windows with dots or tape no more than 2 inches apart, and move feeders closer than 3 feet or farther than 30 feet from the glass. Those two changes prevent most collisions. Keep the rest of the feeding station healthy with rodent-proof seed storage and a heated bird bath.

Related reading

• Suet feeders and winter bird feeding
• Cleaning out bird nest boxes and adding a winter roost box

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