Better Business Bureau

DIAGNOSTIC CENTER

IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM

Important Preventative Tips

Each bird has information that will help you identify the bird on your property & provide preventative tips to keep them off from your home.


Pigeons

Pigeons Body Description: Ranges from 11-13 inches in length. Body color is mostly gray body with iridescent feathers on neck. Feathers on neck appear pink & green in sunlight. Body color can vary with body colors being white, brownish-red, or gray with many mixtures. Eye color is orange and will shine brightly in sunlight.

Habitat Preference: Commonly found inhabiting commercial buildings or structures in towns or cities. Roost in large flocks on walls or statues or in buildings.

Diet: Food discarded by humans

Vocal Sounds: Softly coos

Protection Status: Not Protected

Prevention Techniques: Eliminate food resources on and around property. Secure trash receptacles. Use bird spikes, electric track, bird wire, or bird slope.


Sparrows

Sparrows Body Description: Ranges from 5-6 inches in length. Male body color is mostly brown streaked with lighter colors and pale cheeks. Crown is grey with black bib. Female body color is similar but with paler colors and no head

Habitat Preference: Nests and loafs near human habitats. Commonly found in city centers, parks, gardens, farms & fields. Small flocks & imperative communal roosts.

Nest: Untidy concoction of grass & straw built inside structures and sometimes openly in bushes.

Diet: Primarily seeds but will eat vegetable substance and insects

Vocal Sounds: Sequence of chirps, melodic twitters

Protection Status: Not Protected

Prevention Techniques: Eliminate pests on property & use deterrents on gardens. Effective bird control products include bird netting, electric track, bird slope, and bird gel.


Starling

Starling Body Description: Body length is about 8 inches. Body color is primarily black with a shade of purple and green visible in sunlight. In winter, white speckles become more apparent.

Habitat Preference: Wooded or urban areas. Commonly roosts or loafs in large flocks around city area including structures or trees.

Nest: Made with grass & straw, lined with feathers. Nests in holes on trees and walls or under roof tiles.

Diet: Primarily subsurface insects (ex. Earthworms, centipede, etc). Berries & seeds are part of diet.

Vocal Sounds: High-pitched chirps, often mimicking other birds or sounds

Protection Status: Not Protected

Prevention Techniques: Remove trees on property that bear fruits or berries. Use granular pesticides on lawn. Professional bird control products to deter Starlings include bird netting, electric track, bird slope, and bird gel.


Gulls

Seagulls Body Description: Body length ranges from 18 to 21 inches. Body color is usually grey & white with black markings on head & wings. Gulls have long, yellow bill & webbed feet.

Habitat Preference: Generally in coastal areas but can be found near large bodies of freshwater. They rarely venture far from shore. Migrate to the Pacific Coast in winter. Thrive in human habitats.

Nest: Nest in lakes or marshes. They won’t nest near human habitats. Nest is shallow hole on ground lined with vegetation & feathers.

Diet: Scavenges for food discarded by humans. Diet also includes live food like crabs or fish. Common feeding areas include waste dumps or docks.

Vocal Sounds: Loud, high-pitched squawking

Protection Status: Protected/ Migratory Bird

Prevention Techniques: Eliminate all food sources on property or surrounding property. Secure trash receptacles. Professional bird control products effective for gulls include bird spikes, bird netting, electric track, bird wire, bird spiders, bird slope.


Swallows

Swallows Body Description: Body length ranges from 6 to 8 inches. Back is covered in metallic dark-blue feathers. Their underside is white, cream or pinkish with face being a deep red. Wings are pointed & tail is forked, bill and legs are small. Both sexes have similar body features except for male having longer forked tail.

Habitat Preference: Found near gardens, marshes or open structures.

Nest: Build bowl-shaped nests on structure ledges. Nests are made with mud blended with saliva and grass, lined with feather and hair. Produce eggs that are whitish and speckled with red & violet dots.

Diet: Flying insects

Vocal Sounds: Loud, produces high-pitched ‘vit’ in flight

Protection Status: Protected from April to September/ Migratory bird

Prevention Techniques: Professional bird control techniques effective for swallows include bird netting, electric track, and bird slope.