The most common roosting birds in the urban and suburban environment are pigeons, European starlings, and English house sparrows. All are highly adaptable, capable of finding shelter and roosting sites on and in buildings, and food in garbage cans, bird feeders, and in parks where they are offered handouts.

Pigeons, also known as rock doves, were first introduced into north America in 1606. They nest under bridges, inside barns, on building ledges, rafters, and beams. They lay eggs throughout the year and can raise several broods of one or two young which can fly about thirty five days after hatching. Rock doves were the first bird domesticated by humans, first raised for meat and later as message carriers. Although wild, the pigeons common to urban areas today are habituated to people.

The English house sparrow was introduced to North America in the middle of the 19th Century and is now found throughout the United States. The male is distinguished by brown back and wings, pale gray underparts, and a black bib; the female has an unstreaked breast and no black markings. House sparrows are always found close to humans, and are frequently seen in large flocks in city trees and hedges, or under the eaves of buildings, where they build their nests. They raise two or three broods during the spring and summer, with three to seven young which leave the nest at about seventeen days after hatching.

Roosting birds rarely cause damage, but their accumulated droppings can be annoying to people when the birds congregate in large numbers. Habitat modification can discourage birds from roosting, nesting, and feeding in areas where they are not welcome.

Bird netting, which is made of weather resistant material and is available in a variety of sizes, is a versatile tool for bird-proofing. To prevent birds from roosting on window ledges, anchor netting to the roofline, stretch it across the front of the building, and secure it at the bottom and sides. Large panels of netting can be overlapped and hung in front of garage or other large doors that are left open. Netting can also be used inside buildings to prevent perching on rafters and other horizontal surfaces.

Flat surfaces such as ledges can be modified to prevent pigeons from perching on them. A false ledge can be made by fastening wood, stone, or metal at an angle of at least 60 degrees over the surface so that birds will slide off when they land. A barrier can be constructed with parallel lines of monofilament line or stainless steel wire strung through eyelet screws a few inches above the roosting surface. Place the eyelets no more than 18" apart for the entire length of the barrier to keep the lines taut.

To prevent starlings and house sparrows from finding nesting sites in buildings, seal holes under eaves and in outside walls and replace loose shingles and siding. If the birds have already nested and are caring for babies, wait until the young have fledged and can fly out of the nest. Then, remove all nesting materials and close openings.

If you put up nesting boxes in your yard, choose ones with small openings that are designed for birds such as chickadees, nuthatches, and wrens. Boxes with holes larger than 1" in diameter accommodate starlings and house sparrows and should be avoided if you do not want to attract these species.

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