Types Of Pest Birds

Pest birds come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However they all have one thing in common: they can be a real nuisance to us humans in one way or another. The following are the most common types of pest birds you’re likely to encounter.

European Starling

The European starling is considered an invasive species in North America. It travels in enormous flocks which can cause damage and leave behind a lot of waste when feeding. Flocks can clean out entire bird feeders, leave fruit trees bare, and consume large amounts of sprouting crops. Starling roosts are also incredibly noisy and can create a ton of messy droppings.

Feral Pigeon

The feral pigeon is descended from the rock dove, a bird that nested on cliffs. It’s therefore perfectly suited for living on tall buildings. And the fact that cities offer an abundance of food and have few predators means that the pigeon thrives in urban areas.

It is the most common pest bird species in urban areas around the globe. These pests nest on ledges and their droppings cause an unsightly and potentially dangerous mess. Pigeons are known to carry a variety of diseases that are transmittable to humans.

Canada Goose

The Canada goose is a large species of waterfowl. It often lands in grassy spaces, locations near bodies of water, and in backyard ponds and water features. Each of these big birds can create a lot of waste and they can quickly foul up water making a disgusting mess. In addition, the Canada goose can also be aggressive.

Mallard

The mallard is easily one of the most recognizable species of waterfowl. This duck is also a pest that is known for making a mess in grassy areas such as lawns, parks, and golf courses. And it fouls up ponds and pools with its waste. To keep mallards and other waterfowl from landing a fake predator such as a floating alligator decoy is often used.

Turkey Vulture

The turkey vulture is a vulture species with a bald red head. This scary looking bird typically causes issues when it roosts. It roosts in large numbers and because its diet consists of carrion it has highly corrosive waste. This waste can cause quite a smell and do a lot of damage to surfaces and structures below the roost.

Black Vulture

Like the turkey vulture, the black vulture often causes problems when it roosts near homes or on towers of various types. This species not only eats carrion but also newborn livestock such as calves, which can be very costly for farmers. Dead vulture decoys are often used as a humane deterrent to keep black vultures and also turkey vultures away.

Seagull

The seagull or gull is a seabird. And there are many species of them. Seagulls are scavengers and can be quite bold when it comes to stealing food. These pest birds are very noisy and also leave a lot of highly acidic droppings. They are a particular nuisance for boat owners since they gather and make a mess on unattended boats, and may also nest on them.

Cormorant

The cormorant is a large sea bird that inhabits coastal areas and has a diet that mainly consists of fish. Cormorants sometimes steal fish from fish farms and often feed in conservation areas that are set aside for raising specific species of fish. Their acidic waste can also kill vegetation and be an expensive problem for homeowners living near the water.

Woodpecker

Many people don’t actually consider the woodpecker to be a pest bird. That is of course until one starts putting holes in the wood siding, eaves, or window frames. Male woodpeckers may also cause a racquet by tapping on metal items such as downspouts in the attempt to attract a mate.

Great Blue Heron

The great blue heron is a tall wading bird. While it may look elegant it is an expert predator that is notorious for eating pond fish. And it can swallow very large fish whole. Because it is a territorial species, a great blue heron decoy can be highly effective for deterring herons from landing and feeding in ponds

Barn Swallow

The barn swallows feeds mainly on insects. While this may sound beneficial it also builds its nests on manmade structures such as under eaves, on walls, under bridges, and on barns. The semi-circular mud nest can cause surface damage where it is built. Nests and the waste which accumulates near them can contain parasites, bacteria, and diseases.

House Sparrow

House sparrows are a very common pest bird species. These small brown and grey birds often like to build their nests in drainage pipes, rafters, exterior shutters, and corrugated metal siding. This causes clogs and can be unsafe because they create a lot of potentially dangerous waste. In addition, house sparrows tend to be noisy.

Crow

Crows are highly intelligent birds, which makes them formidable pests. They empty out birdfeeders, eat crops, and dig up lawns looking for grubs. Crows also roost in large numbers and are noisy at dawn. Because these wary birds avoid areas for long periods of time where they have seen another dead crow, dead crow decoys are often used as deterrents for them.

Common Grackle

The common grackle is well-known for causing costly damage to crops. These pest birds feed in huge flocks and devour large amounts of seeds, berries, birdseed, and grains. They also feed on corn sprouts and ripening corn. The droppings left by a flock of grackles can cause damage to various surfaces and require extensive cleanup.

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