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Published by My Gutter Doctor on July 7, 2023

why do birds nest in gutters blog cover image

WHY BIRDS NEST IN GUTTERS & HOW TO PREVENT THEM FROM RETURNING

As the coldness of winter dissipates and the daylight starts to become longer with spring, birds begin their annual migration back to their northern homes. Almost like clockwork the birds return to their home regions every year to find the perfect location to build their nests and start a new family. Ideally birds like to build their nests in safe locations that offer cover from predators. Places around the home such as window sills, eaves, chimneys, and gutters all offer safe havens for birds to build their nest. The more enclosed an area is, the safer it will be from predators. Therefore, one of the most common places for birds to nest in, is gutters.

mama bird feeding a baby bird in a gutter

Whoever said “Life finds a way” was not wrong when it comes to birds, because birds will almost certainly “find a way.” If there are gaps in your gutter covers, rooflines, fascia boards, soffit, etc.. birds will eventually find their way in there to build nest. And chances are that they will return. In this article we explain what attracts birds to gutters, why birds nesting in gutters is bad, tips for safe removal, and ways to prevent birds from returning.

WHAT ATTRACTS BIRDS TO GUTTERS

Birds are attracted to gutters because they offer safety from predators. The enclosed space keeps the birds out of view from would be poachers that may try to eat the eggs or chicks. But what attracts the birds even more is when the gutters have some sort of cover overhanging the top. The cover encloses the gutter so that birds of prey flying overhead are not able to spot the birds nest inside. In fact, since birds of prey are the number one predator of smaller birds, they almost always seek out gutters that are enclosed in one way or another for the best chances of survival.

birds nest in faulty gutter cover

In the phot below is a classic example of a faulty gutter cover. If you look closely at the end of the gutter, you will notice that the gutter screen is tilted at an angle so that it could go under the shingles. Unfortunately this leaves a major gap at the end of the gutter that birds are able to fit through.

birds nest under gutter screens

GAPS IN GUTTER COVERS / FAULTY GUTTER COVERS

When it comes to birds nesting in gutters, faulty or loose gutter covers are perfect because the birds are able to sneak under the covers to build nests. In fact, under faulty covers is the most common place to find birds nest in gutters. That’s because the covers offer protection from birds of prey that fly above.

In the photo below you’ll see a birds nest that was tucked under a gutter helmet style cover. This style features a gap all the way across for the water to go in the gutter. The problem with that is smaller birds are able to fit through the gap to build nests.

birds nest under gutter helmet

EXCESSIVE SHINGLE OVERHANG / ROOFLINE

Similar to how gutter screens offer cover, when the roofline hangs a few inches over the gutters it also creates a canopy that blocks the view from above. Although not as concealed as with loose gutter guards, shingles that overhang are more common so we see birds nest in uncovered gutters often. In the photo below we see a terra cotta style roof that covers most of the gutter. A perfect hiding place for birds to nest.

bird under shingle overhang

GAPS IN FASCIA BOARDS

If there are gaps in your fascia board, soffit, or roofing eave that are big enough for birds to squeeze through, chances are they are going to find their way in eventually to build nests. Under the roof or behind loose wood can be an even safer location than gutters for birds to nest in. If you have visible gaps in your wood, keep an eye out for birds flying in and out of that area.

loose fascia board

EXCESSIVE GUTTER DEBRIS

Birds are attracted to messy and neglected gutters for several reasons. For one, birds use gutter debris such as twigs, stems, and leaves to build their nests. A bird can build a nest rather quickly in a gutter full of the right building materials, so it provides fast cover. Clogged gutters usually means water in the gutters which can attract bugs and provide drinking water. So basically a clogged gutter can provide food, drink, and shelter for certain species of birds.

birds nest in gutter debris

PROBLEMS WITH BIRDS NESTS IN GUTTERS

CLOGGED GUTTERS & DOWNSPOUTS

The most common problem with birds nest in gutters is that the nests cause clogs in the gutter and downspout systems. When water is not able to drain properly through the gutter system it causes the water to leak and overflow. Keeping the gutters free and clear of debris is one of the most important aspects of home maintenance. That is because the gutters protect the home from water damages, and need to flow properly to continue to protect the home.

clogged gutter system overflows

The problem with birds nest in gutters is that when a birds nest washes down a downspout, it almost always ends up getting stuck and forming a clog. Since birds typically build their nest in spring, it often leaves the gutters clogged during rain season. Therefore we recommend to trying to schedule spring cleanings between mid May and late June if your home has problems with birds nesting every year in the gutters.

DAMAGES TO THE GUTTER SYSTEM, FASCIA BOARD, OR SOFFIT

When gutters become clogged for extended periods of time, the excessive water weight will ultimately lead to gutter repairs such as loose gutters or slope issues. And if those gutter repairs are ignored they can lead to water damages to the wood from exposure to moisture. Therefore ignoring a simple issue such as a downspout clog can lead to much more expensive repairs if left go for a long period of time.

CAN ATTRACT OTHER PESTS

When birds nest in gutters it can also attract other unwanted pests. Raccoons and snakes are two common predators that are able to make it onto the roofs and into gutters. Snakes are even known to climb up a downspout if they sense a food source is hiding above.

In addition to attracting predators, birds are also known to be hosts for many types of bugs. Fleas, ticks, bed bugs, and mites are all commonly found on birds. Therefore a nest of birds roosting in your gutters (or inside your roof) can lead to other pest infestations in the home that will remain after the birds leave.

SAFELY REMOVING BIRDS NESTS FROM GUTTERS

If birds nest have eggs in them, check with local bird protection laws before doing anything, as removal of nests with live eggs of migratory birds is illegal in some areas. In most cases you will need to wait until the chicks have hatched and relocated before removing the nest. The good news is that eggs typically have an incubation period of 10-28 days, therefore they won’t be around for too long. It’s important to note that birds often will not return to their nests if tampered with by humans. In some situations they may even abandon their babies. Therefore when you spot live eggs try not to disturb the nest or get too close to it.

birds nest with live eggs in gutter

Once the nest has been vacated, typically by May or June, it is safe to remove the nest from the system. We recommend clearing out birds nest before the storm season begins, to ensure that your gutters are ready to handle the heavy rains. Gloves and glasses are highly recommended when removing birds nest from anywhere on the home. Since birds and their feces are known to carry diseases and pests, it is also recommended to immediately discard the nest and clean the area with an antibacterial spray. Once the nest is safely discarded be sure to clean your hands, arms, and face with antibacterial soap and warm water.

bird flying away from gutter

STEPS TO PREVENT BIRDS FROM RETURNING TO GUTTERS

GUTTER COVERS

The most effective way to prevent birds from returning to gutters is to install (effective) gutter covers to the gutters. Sometimes homeowners get lucky and are able to get away with only covering the gutters the birds nest in. My Gutter Doctor recommends perforated gutter screens because they fit to the tops of the gutters making it impossible for birds to get into the gutters.

step-down gutter guards

BIRD SPIKES

Another common method from preventing birds from nesting in gutters are called bird spikes. More commonly used on store fronts and downspout areas, bird spikes are basically strips of spikes that are able to be installed along roofing eaves, and/or the front lip of the gutter. Although not as effective as gutter covers, bird spikes are cheaper and can be installed by anybody that isn’t afraid of heights.

bird spikes on gutter

BIRD REPELLENT

There are scent based bird repellents that are specifically designed to safely and humanely deter birds from your gutters or anywhere else you don’t want them.

My Gutter Doctor suggests you use these products as directed only, and to confirm that they are safe and non toxic before using. *My Gutter Doctor has not personally tested these products*

bird repellent

DECOYS

There are many types of bird decoys on the market. Predator decoys such as rubber snakes, coyote statues, hawk statues, etc.. are simple but effective bird decoys. Since birds are scared of their natural predators they will vacate an area if aware of their presence. In addition sound or light decoys are commonly used to scare birds away from homes. Reflective tape, aluminum foil, and even mirrors are other common types of safe bird deterrents. The goal is to scare or downright annoy the bird away from the home.

bird deterrent

MAINTAIN PROPER GUTTER CLEANING SCHEDULE

Learning when the trees around your home drop their spring and fall debris and then getting on a cleaning schedule that is synced to those cycles is very recommended for homeowners. If you have problems with birds nest every year, then a late spring or early summer gutter cleaning will be more helpful than an early spring cleaning. This will ensure that the gutters and downspouts are clear of any debris, such as birds nests going into the rain and storm season. Cleaning the gutters too early in spring could result in birds nest clogging up the gutters afterwards.

Cleaning the gutters out towards the end of spring and fall every year will ensure that the gutters are free and clear for the rain/storm season and the snow/ice season. A regular gutter cleaning schedule will also prevent debris from being able to decompose in the gutters and turn to mulch/mud.

bird sleeping in gutter

CONCLUSION

There are several options to keep birds from returning to your gutters to nest in the spring. Some are more effective than others and can vary from species to species. The only way to 100% prevent birds from returning to gutters is by installing effective gutter covers to the gutter system. Scheduling a late spring gutter cleaning every year is another preventive method to ensure the gutters and downspouts aren’t clogged by nests going into the summer storm season.

bird nesting in gutter in rain