Birding/suicidal robin

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Expert: - 5/26/2009


Question
every window in my house gets attacked moring, noon and night by a robin(s). It is driving me nuts! The windows are covered with tracks. The bird wakes me up. They did this last year, too, but not like this year. This has been going on for about 2 months now. There must be a better reason than the one you gave. Is it possible that this is learned behavior for last year's hatchlings? Like father, like son? Thanks,
yda scheffer

Answer
Did I tell you that this is territorial behavior? I presume I did because that is the answer. I have never heard of any better explanation. And, as I said, eliminate the reflection and the behavior will go away. This is not learned behavior, this is instinctive.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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