Why would a woodpecker attack something as unusual as a car? And what can homeowners do when these feathered invaders cause property damage with their relentless pecking?
This isn’t a scene from a “Woody Woodpecker” cartoon; it’s an issue that’s been puzzling U.S. homeowners. In several neighborhoods, residents have found cracked windshields, dented mirrors, and chipped paint on their cars, only to discover that the culprit is often a local woodpecker. The birds, typically known for their love of tree trunks, have developed an odd attraction to reflective surfaces during mating season, leading them to mistake their own reflection for a rival bird. This behavior has left some homeowners frustrated, especially when the damage becomes costly.
Take Gallucci, a resident of Riverlea, Ohio, for example. One day, she stepped outside to find a pileated woodpecker pecking at her car’s side mirror. The bird, perched on the window frame, stared at her as if defending its territory. “Can I have my car back, please?” she joked, but the bird didn’t budge. Eventually, it flew off, leaving Gallucci’s car intact—until the next day, when the side mirror was cracked. Then it happened again, and again. Soon, her husband’s car was hit as well. Neighboring houses reported similar damage from the same pesky bird.
The residents of Riverlea quickly banded together to protect their cars from the relentless woodpecker. In fact, Riverlea’s story is not unique. A similar situation unfolded in Rockport, Massachusetts, where a pileated woodpecker, known for its bright red crest and distinctive markings, wreaked havoc on over 20 vehicles. Locals affectionately dubbed it “the pileated pillager.” For one resident, the bird even damaged the tinted window of his Ford F-350 truck. “Looking at 30 years to life right now,” he jokingly remarked about the bird’s crimes.
So, why would a woodpecker attack cars? It turns out that woodpeckers typically use their drumming sound to establish their territory and attract mates. This “drumming” often takes place on tree trunks, where the bird taps with precision. However, when it happens on metal or reflective surfaces, the sound is amplified, which may make the bird perceive its reflection as another rival bird, leading to a more aggressive response. This is especially common during mating season, when birds are particularly territorial.
For homeowners facing this issue, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers some helpful advice. First and foremost, it’s important to remember that woodpeckers are protected by federal law, meaning that any harmful action towards them can result in legal consequences. Instead, homeowners should consider non-harmful deterrents.
Some effective strategies include covering car mirrors with plastic bags or cloths to prevent birds from seeing their reflections. Homeowners can also fill in and paint over any holes woodpeckers may drill into wood on their property. If there is an active nest, the best course of action is to wait until midsummer when the young birds have left. Other tactics include using decoys like owls and hawks, hanging reflective objects like spinners or windsocks, or playing distress calls of woodpeckers to confuse and scare off the birds.
While these methods aren’t always 100% effective, they provide a safer, more humane way to protect both your property and the woodpecker population during their most active times.
