Strange Robin Behavior: In the past few days, a robin, not sure if it's a male or female, has been flying against just about every window we have on the back of our house. It either...

TV714

In the past few days, a robin, not sure if it's a male or female, has been flying against just about every window we have on the back of our house. It either sits on the ground a few feet away or in a closeby tree and then just takes off and flies against our window. We have put up items on the inside of the windows so that the robin doesn't see its reflection or the reflection of the sky. It either moves to another window or just continues on that window. One of the windows is under a porch with no reflection of the sky in view.

I'm wondering if any of you birders have ever seen or heard of this kind of behavior and what could be its reason for doing this?

SteveFranz Loc: Durham, NC

Yes. A couple weeks ago we had a bluebird do that for a couple days.

Many years ago we lived in southern Ohio and a cardinal would sit on our windowsill and bang on the window. I don't think it was attacking it's reflection, since it only pecked the corners of the window. Also, we had a storm door on the front of our house that was solid on the bottom and glass on the top. The cardinal would sit on the doorstep and jump up to look in the glass half of the door.

I think the cardinal was eating fermented mulberries - our windows had purple stains where he had been pecking.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

I’ve always chalked this up to mating season. I figure thes are males chasing off any other males who might be trying to “move in” on their territories and lady birds.
You know, just guys being guys!

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

BassmanBruce wrote:

I’ve always chalked this up to mating season. I figure thes are males chasing off any other males who might be trying to “move in” on their territories and lady birds.
You know, just guys being guys!

I agree.

MDI Mainer

BassmanBruce wrote:

I’ve always chalked this up to mating season. I figure thes are males chasing off any other males who might be trying to “move in” on their territories and lady birds.
You know, just guys being guys!

I think you're spot on.

https://extension.psu.edu/bird-continually-hitting-window#:~:text=This%20behavior%20is%20most%20often,to%20keep%20them%20away%20from.

Apparently male cardinals are especially known as recidivists. The suggested remedy is to set up a mirror in the yard and let the birds fight with that reflection.

I've had a problem with birds attacking my car's outside mirrors. (This is not my photo though.)

TV714

MDI Mainer wrote:

I think you're spot on.

https://extension.psu.edu/bird-continually-hitting-window#:~:text=This%20behavior%20is%20most%20often,to%20keep%20them%20away%20from.

Apparently male cardinals are especially known as recidivists. The suggested remedy is to set up a mirror in the yard and let the birds fight with that reflection.

I've had a problem with birds attacking my car's outside mirrors. (This is not my photo though.)

The male defending his territory seems like the most likely explanation. The only thing that makes me wonder about this particular bird is that one of our windows is at ground level in our back yard. He was sitting on the ground right at the window where he certainly would have seen his reflection. Yet, he wasn't attacking his reflection, but rather flew up a foot or so and hit the window well above what he was seeing. So, who knows?

MDI Mainer

I'm not sure I could determine just what the bird is seeing, or where on the window he's seeing it.

BArthur3

I regularly have the same Robin issue in Spring/mating season banging into windows. Best research suggests it if somewhere between defending territory and scarring off possible rivals. And it seems to be one Robin doing its thing for a few days until moving on to better "dating" grounds.

malawibob Loc: South Carolina

Had that happen here too. Turns out the birds were chasing bugs that were either on or near the windows.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

Robins do weird things on a good day.

Jack47 Loc: Ontario

TV714 wrote:

In the past few days, a robin, not sure if it's a ... (show quote)

It wants to come in😄😄

Tex-s

TV714 wrote:

In the past few days, a robin, not sure if it's a ... (show quote)

Don’t know about your robin, but one afternoon my brother ended up having to dispose of about 50 dead birds at his home after they all killed themselves flying full speed into his rear windows. When he talked to a biology professor it was postulated that the whole group of birds, during the profound drought, may have eaten some (usually not eaten) bloom or berry that ended up being an intoxicant.

Canisdirus

Red Robins ...look cute...total warrior species.

At least 10% of male Robins die from head fractures...they head butt like rams.
The bigger the red chest...the more of a warrior.

Spring time is pure gladiator season for them.

Bindlestiff Loc: Brookfield, WI

I have had the same problem with both robins and cardinals. Your bird feed store may have "Scare Tape" which can be taped to the outside of the window whcih is very effective at discouraging this behavior.

junglejim1949 Loc: Sacramento,CA

TV714 wrote:

In the past few days, a robin, not sure if it's a ... (show quote)

The cause for me was the fermenting juniper berries. There were 12 robins staggering around the jacuzzi and 3 or 4 flew into the sliding glass door.