Blue tit perched on my patio door handle

the last 4-5 days i have had a blue tit spend most of the daylight hours perched on my patio door handle it occasionally flies to the top of door then perches back on the door handle in the last couple of days it now alternates between the frame on my bedroom window and the patio door handle, it sometimes allow me to get quite close. As I type this I can here the blue tit calling. Has anybody any ideas why this blue tit is behaving this way?

  • Hi Grove,

    I wonder if they have lost there mate. I saw the cat across the road from me with a blackbird in his mouth, and for days after, a male blackird sat across the road for days calling for her, I also had two Pied wagtails turn up in my garden some time ago, I saw one of them fly off and it never returned, but the one that was left sat on my garage roof calling for three days solid, he would turn up first thing in the morning and wouldn't leave until dusk, I'm pleased to say he has now found himself another mate.

    There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.

  • Hi Grove, and welcome to the forum.

    I can think of two possible explanations.

    Firstly, the blue tit might be seeing its own reflection in the glass and thinking that it's a rival.  That would be especially true if it was pecking on the glass.  You can prevent this by putting a sticker or something on the window. Apparently clingfilm also works to stop the reflection.

    Secondly, if you have putty in the window frames, blue tits are sometimes attracted to the stuff in the putty and try to eat it.

    Alternatively, it might just have found a good place to perch and look out for possible mates - or it might want you to feed it! 

    BB

  • I have seen some very odd behaviour from two of my bluetits in the last week.  They seem to be examining in detail every nook and cranny of my garden.  whereas they used to arrive at the feeders and then vanish they have checked out each bush and shrub for about 5 minutes at a time. all the eves and guttering on mine and the neighbours garage and the nest box.What could they be up to?

    Suggestions on a post(card) please!

    Sarah

    I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/

  • Hi Sarah,

    I've seen my Blue tit's doing this, and thought they may be looking for somewhere suitable to nest.

    There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.

  • Hello Grove,

    This bluetit is most likely reacting to its own reflection in the patio door. Rather than seeing itself, as far as this little bird is concerned it can see another bluetit and a potential rival on its territory. We are into the birds breeding season now and birds are very keen to defend their own territories, so any potential threat must be dealt with. Whilst this behaviour is more noticeable during the breeding season, it can also happen at other times.

    This birds behaviour is it 's way of trying to scare off its rival. Some birds can become quite agitated by this and I think this would explain the calling. The only way to stop this behaviour is to remove the trigger – the reflection. This means putting something such as cling film or non-reflective cellophane on the outside of the window. 

    Once the reflection has disappeared, the attacks should stop. Newspaper can also be used, but some birds tear it off thinking that the adversary is hiding behind the paper. Curtains made of strips of plastic that flutter in a breeze may also be effective. Often birds habitually attack only a particular window, but sometimes different windows may be attacked in sequence depending on the position of the sun. The behaviour sequence can sometimes be broken if the first window in the sequence is treated.

    Hope this helps,

    Claire

  • bramble67 said:

    I have seen some very odd behaviour from two of my bluetits in the last week.  They seem to be examining in detail every nook and cranny of my garden.  whereas they used to arrive at the feeders and then vanish they have checked out each bush and shrub for about 5 minutes at a time. all the eves and guttering on mine and the neighbours garage and the nest box.What could they be up to?

    Suggestions on a post(card) please!

    Sarah

      Hi to everyone,

    I too have had my few long tails behaving in this way too all last week and this week. All through the winter they came and fed for their breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, they came like this every day with out fail. then a couple of weeks back I didn't see them for about six days. then all of a sudden they are back again and don't seem to be interested in leaving very quickly. They are climbing all around the fence and going from little bushes to shrubs that they have never visited before.

    I was wondering if they were after nesting material like cobwebs from the fence, (there are plenty there) or perhaps they are finding insects which have not been available during winter.

    This time of year I was expecting to see them less not more often. It only seems to be the long tails that are behaving in this way though, the Blues and greats aren't.

  • These are pictures of my blue tits checking out the fence and shrubs today.

    I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/