How To Stop Birds From Making Holes In Your House

by Derrick | Last Updated: July 22, 2021

Birds, especially woodpeckers, can make holes in wood. These birds usually prefer to peck on trees. But they might choose your house as their new pecking spot. It is an issue for anyone if a bird is making holes in the house. Additionally, the pecking sound is not comfortable either. If you face this problem, you probably want to know how to stop them from making these holes.

The most effective way to stop birds from making holes in your house is to scare them with objects that move, shine or make noise. However, identifying the main reasons birds are attracted to peck your home will help you assess the root cause and find alternative solutions.

While scaring the birds sounds like an easy option, it might not be as effective as you want it to be. You will need to cover every spot in your house to prevent the peckers from moving from one place to another.

Understanding Why Birds Are Making Holes In Your House

Solving a problem effectively begins with understanding its origin. Understanding the root cause can help us to analyze our options. It is the same case with stopping birds from making holes in your house.

There is a reason, or several reasons, why your house seems to be a great place to peck. Here, we will dive into more details about those reasons so you can understand them better.

Reasons Why Birds Peck On Your House

There are some reasons why birds, especially woodpeckers, make holes in your house. Here’s a list of the most common.

Courtship And Breeding Season

The woodpecker’s mating season plays an essential role in their behavior. Male birds will use their pecking skills to demonstrate they are looking for a female. Their demonstration includes loud pecking so that females can hear across the distance.

Additionally, the wood pecking serves another purpose, marking dominance over a territory. Nothing personal against you, it is just that your house happens to be a great place to call home, and woodpeckers know it.

On the other hand, breeding is closely related to the courtship process. As we mentioned, during courtship, male woodpeckers claim ownership over a particular territory. Yes, we are talking about your house. Woodpeckers would start to build their love nest wherever they find comfort.

Nests are usually profound, with a small entrance that allows the birds to come in and out. The woodpecker might not even need to import materials to create the nest. These birds are capable of equipping their nests by using the same wood they have been pecking.

Courtship season usually starts in spring and ends in summer, right when breeding starts. You might notice woodpeckers acting strangely around your house during this time. Since we have enough information about seasons and how they affect woodpeckers, it is time to answer our main question.

Q: How to stop woodpeckers from making holes in your house during their courtship season?

A: You can add fake owls or birds scarecrows before springtime. It will indicate to the woodpecker that this territory has already been taken. The male will look for somewhere else to drum.

Food Source

Woodpeckers don’t eat wood. But, they could be pecking in your house because they find food behind the wood. These holes will be smaller than the ones they create during courtship and breeding season. Even though you don’t like them, it could be a good way for you to find out about insects that have been living in your house.

The downside is that these holes will attract other insects. It will create an endless loop where the birds would peck to eat larvae while new insects find their new home in emptied holes.

Q: How to stop woodpeckers from making holes in your house to eat insects?

A: The answer is to call pest control. The woodpecker will raise the flag about something that’s not right, but pest control will help you to solve the issue. Additionally, you can add a bird feeder to a nearby tree to attract woodpeckers to it.

Other Reasons Why Birds Peck In Your House

We have seen the two main reasons why birds, especially woodpeckers, make holes in your house. But, there are other reasons and places where birds could peck.

For instance, let’s take windows. Their reflection in the glass of your windows can threaten some birds. They might consider they are fighting against another male. For this reason, they may avoid making holes near them and move to other areas of your home.

Other Things You Can Do To Deter Birds From Your House

There are other things you can do to prevent birds from making holes in your house. While there are many myths around it, we did our best to bring you a list of options that will be effective:

Add moving elements

In this list, you can include wind spinners, flags, wind chimes, and so on.

Create a bird-safe environment nearby your house

You can add a bird’s house, a feeder, and birdbaths close to your house. It would help you to bring the woodpeckers to a place where they do not represent an issue to your home’s structure.

Add attachments

Attachments can help you to deter birds from nesting in your home. You can use chicken nets or wire. Also, you can use reflective tape, aluminum cans, or any other object that can reflect the sunlight.

Call your local animal services

You can ask them for suggestions on how to handle wildlife living in your home. Wildlife professionals can help you safely remove and find a home for them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I spray on my house to keep woodpeckers away?

Some people claim peppermint oil and other repellents can help to deter woodpeckers. However, reviews about these products contradict their effectiveness. Most users claim they don’t work, while some others claim they do.

What smells do woodpeckers hate?

Some people claim woodpeckers don’t like the smell of garlic. This claim has not been scientifically proven. However, if you think about it, you will be forced to spray garlic over your house periodically to prevent the smell from fading away.

What time of day do woodpeckers peck?

They usually peck during the day. Woodpeckers can start as early as the sun rises and will finish as late as the sun sets. There’s no evidence they will peck during the night.

Do windchimes scare woodpeckers?

Yes, windchimes can scare woodpeckers. It is especially true if you use metal windchimes. Woodpeckers will stay away from any moving, shiny, or noisy object, and windchimes seem to check all these boxes.

Final Thoughts About Birds Making Holes in Your House

There are two main reasons why woodpeckers will make holes in your house, because they have found their new home or because they have found a food source in it. Depending on the reason, the holes will vary.

Deterring woodpeckers can be tricky, and it would be better to prevent them from being attracted to your house. Courtship and breeding season starts in spring and ends in summer. You can install moving objects, reflective elements, and plastic owls to keep them away from your house.

Also, you could create a space for them to inhabit, close to your home. While they might not be your ideal neighbors, it is better than having them pecking at your house.

If they are attracted to insects inside the wood in your house, you can call pest control to help you with the issue. They will not remove the woodpeckers themselves. But, if you eliminate their food source, eventually, they will find another place to peck.

Finally, if none of these suggestions work, call your local animal services or any wildlife professionals that can help you to find a new home for these birds.