Identifying nuisance birds

Signs of a pigeon problem

The clearest sign is droppings on ledges, window sills, balconies, gutters and solar panels. Others include:

• Cooing and scratching from the roof, especially at dawn
• Nesting material in gutters, under panels or in roof gaps
• Fouled cars, patios and furniture below a regular perch
• Feathers and a stained, whitened streak below a roost

Each pigeon can make about 12 kg of droppings a year (PestPro Index). Dried droppings can release fungal spores, so avoid sweeping them dry or breathing the dust.

A single noisy bird on a chimney is not the same as a flock on a warehouse. The signs above help you judge how big the problem is, and where proofing should start. Photograph the droppings and the perch before you ask anyone for a quote.

Which bird is it

Several birds cause similar trouble, and the law treats them differently. Identify first.

• Feral pigeon. A town bird, usually grey with two dark wing bars, with variable colours. This is the bird the 2026 general licences GL41 and GL42 name.
• Wood pigeon. Larger, with a white neck patch. It is on GL42, not GL41.
• Gulls. Large, noisy, white and grey birds that nest on roofs and chimneys. Gulls are not covered by GL41 or GL42.
• Starlings. Small, dark and glossy, often in noisy flocks. They are not covered by either licence.
• Swifts and house martins. Protected species that nest under eaves. Do not disturb them.

The descriptions are brief guides. If you are not sure, photograph the bird and ask a professional before taking any step.

Nests and breeding season

Pigeons breed from March to September, with multiple broods and up to about 12 chicks a year (PestPro Index). Gulls are noisy at their nest sites in spring and summer.

An active nest, with eggs or young, is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 section 1. It is an offence to damage or destroy it. Wait until the young have fledged, then proof the area. If you cannot tell whether a nest is active, assume it is.

Health and cleaning

Droppings can foul surfaces and gutters, and when dry they can release fungal spores. To clean small areas, wear gloves and a mask, damp the droppings with a cloth and bag the waste. For roofs, large amounts or any signs of illness, use a firm that cleans guano.

The figure for droppings per bird comes from a trade guide, not a government source, so treat it as a rough guide. Do not hose droppings down a drain or into a gutter. Put the sealed bag in your normal rubbish.

What to do next

Once you know the bird, see how bird control and proofing work, what it costs and how to try it yourself within the law. If the bird is a gull or a protected species, stop and take advice before any action.