Little bird constantly tapping on patio door

  • In reply to Candice:

    Do you not have blinds or curtains you could close only temporarily as it's using alot of energy when it should be putting its energy into breeding...please try and help rather than letting the wee guy burn out!

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)

  • Oh I didn't know. Will try that.
  • In reply to ItisaRobbo:

    I can only tell you what I have seen over many years, though I am by no means an expert. The blue tits and long tailed tits definitely go for insects and their eggs on my balcony in the spring. They are hovering at the top of the window and are pecking at the top and side of the window, not looking at the window or the reflections, which they also do on occasion. Watching their antics has given me a lot of pleasure over the years.
  • Thank you. I thought it was the spiders but we had to hose the area down as it also keeps pooping when sitting on the handle lol......I've drawn the blinds too. Seems to be a bit less today, although it's very windy today too, so possibly sheltering. It's been a joy & a bit annoying as it's distracting me from working, that said it's entertaining, and hard to be annoyed at such a cute little bird :-)
  • Just incase this thread gets picked up in internet searches by other people looking for info, I will just add this clarification.

    Regardless of time of year, if a bird’s behaviour matches the description given by Candice, it will be due to reflections in the glass.

    Collecting insects on and around windows is clearly something some birds do. I get blue tits, long tailed tits and chiffchaffs doing it. In my experience, it is always the Summer, but I am not questioning other people seeing it outside of Summer. Birds don’t spend hours and days on a feeder though, let alone a window.
  • As has been said - it'll be the reflection.

    I've witnessed this behaviour quite a few times and the bird really becomes stressed so to help it out cover the 'offending' reflective surface with something dull and (obviously) not prone to giving off a reflection.

    The bird will then think the 'rival' has moved on.
  • Thank you everyone for your help. The little long-tailed tit has moved on.
  • In reply to Candice:

    Glad to hear it Candice...thanks for helping the wee dude out ;-)

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)

  • Thought it would be a timely reminder to repost what BTO have issued this week regarding this issue. I've cut & pasted it from BTO.....their response, not mine. I continue to agree with that, and the response I gave last year to a similar question.....

    This is the second year of Long-tailed Tits feeding and breeding in our garden. It is a delight to watch them, however, we have been concerned about their fascination with windows. One has managed to perch on the window leading pecking at the window. They are hitting on our neighbour's window too, and that isn't leaded. Also, they are tapping on the car windows. None of the tits have harmed themselves. Should we be concerned and be doing something to prevent the behaviour? Or is it normal?

    J (name removed)

     

    This behaviour is typical to a number of birds, though Long-tailed Tits, Blues Tits and Song Thrushes are notable in being regularly recorded doing this activity. We see this most often during early spring. This is when birds are at their most territorial, as the breeding season approaches. When birds see their reflection in the glass they believe it to be an intruder in their territory and will attempt to drive them away. They rarely hurt themselves in these activities, though it will be a waste of energy for the birds. To stop this the windows would need to be covered on the outside using anything which would stop the reflection.

  • In reply to ItisaRobbo:

    Will keep it bookmarked as no doubt there will be posts again this year and saves us the time typing a response ;-)

    (Pardon the Scottish Accent)