How to Help a Bird That Has Struck a Window

Finding a bird stunned after striking a window can be a startling and heartbreaking experience. The National Audubon Society calls window collisions one of the leading direct human causes of bird mortality, killing between 365 million and a billion annually. About 44% of those fatalities are believed to be caused by homes and other one- to three-story buildings.

The impact usually stuns the bird and often results in its death either because it's injured or too stunned to defend itself against predators. However, a little care and protection could greatly up its chances of survival. Here’s what you need to know to give a stunned bird the best chance at recovery.

Observe the Bird

Previously, the thinking was that stunned birds without visible injuries could recover quickly from window collisions. The advice was to provide a watchful eye to ensure they didn't fall prey to cats or other predators. And then to try and perch the bird on a tree.

But with more recent research and the wisdom of bird rehabilitators, now the advice is that any bird that has collided with a window should be seen by a rehabber. Most window-collision birds will have some degree of eye injury, and many will have concussions. Even if they can fly away and do not look injured, some 70% of birds that have collided with glass will succumb to injuries if they are not treated.

Getting a Bird to a Rehabber

To find a wildlife rehabber near you, use the Animal Help Now wildlife rehab finder. (This is an amazing resource.)

Approach the bird slowly from behind and gently capture it in your hands, with a bag prepared nearby (see below). Some birds will be so stunned that they won't even notice; others will startle and squawk and may try to escape—this is a fear response, not an indication that they are not injured.

For smaller birds, the best "ambulance" is a paper bag; like a lunch bag or small paper shopping bag. Birds may still flap around inside, and the paper is soft enough that they won't further injure themselves like they might if they are in a hard cardboard box or animal carrier. You can poke a few holes in the bag, though it is not necessary if the bird is not going to be inside for more than a few hours. Be sure to secure the top with a binder or other kind of clip. A box may be suitable for larger birds.

Absolutely do not give the bird water or food.

If You Can't Get to a Rehabber

If you absolutely can not take the bird to a wildlife rehabber, keep the bird safe from predators and see if it will try to fly away in a bit. After the shock of the collision, a dark, quiet place can be helpful, so consider putting the bird in a bag or box and letting it recuperate for a while. After 30 minutes or so, take the bag or box as far away as possible from your home and other structures. Open the box to allow the bird to fly out. If it doesn't, close the box back up and open it every 15 minutes until the bird is strong enough to achieve takeoff.

How to Protect Birds from Window Collisions

The best way to prevent a sad incident like this from happening is to make sure your space is as bird-friendly as possible. Make a difference in the lives of birds in your region (and the many migrants who may pass through) and follow these steps to collision-proof your home.

Be Strategic With Your Bird Feeder Placement

Bird feeders and baths are safest when they're either right up against your house or far away from it. When a feeder is within three feet of a window, birds aren't likely to hurt themselves because they aren't flying at high speeds.

A better option, however, might be to place feeders and baths more than 30 feet from glass.

Turn Lights Out at Night

Migrating birds are drawn to light, so dimming yours at night is important. (It's also just good practice, given the degree of light pollution we have.) Motion sensors are a great option.

Large, glass-covered buildings around the country have begun turning off their lights at night to avoid disorienting birds who are attracted to it—especially during the migratory season. You can do the same at home.

Apply Window Decals

The American Bird Conservancy recommends decorating windows with stripes or patterns to disrupt the reflection that birds fly into. You can do this with decals or opaque, window-friendly tape or with nontoxic, rain-proof temporary paint.

ABC says the lines should be at least 1/8 inches wide and spaced two inches apart. You should be able to see the stripes from 10 feet away. Or try a grid pattern of dots, also spaced two inches apart. We like Feather Friendly residential decal tape that provides a subtle dot pattern that doesn't obstruct your view but is highly effective in reducing collisions.

Note that bird of prey decals are not effective.

Install Netting Over Windows

ABC also recommends installing lightweight netting or screens over windows to catch birds before they hit the glass. Even regular insect screens work.

Brands like the Bird Screen Company and Acopian BirdSavers make suction cup-backed screens specifically for this purpose, but any sort of netting will do as long as it sticks out several inches from the window.

For more on the many ways you can (and should!) treat your windows, visit ABC.