Expert: Roger Lederer - 6/8/2009

Question
is there an over population of Robins this year in Michigan   I have 3 acres and have never seen so many

Also have you heard of robins attacking windows

this happens every spring one robin repeatedly flys up and down our front and back windows for hours on end every day for 1-2 weeks

do you know of a small black bird that has a redhead that eats off of the ground like robins do

Thanks, Diane

Answer
Robins and many other birds are territorial and when they establish territories in the spring they become aggressive and chase off intruders. Unfortunately, they don't distinguish between their own reflection in a window (or car mirror) and try to chase that off. The solution to the problem is to eliminate the reflection. Misting the outside of the window with a very weak detergent or soda solution will eliminate the reflection but will also impair visibility for you. Awnings, eave extensions, and window screens will eliminate all reflection and stop the collision problem. Hanging ornaments such as wind chimes, wind socks, and potted plants also help. The behavior will stop when nesting begins.
Robin populations, as all bird populations, fluctuate from year to year, so one year you might have a lot and the next year not as many.
Tell me more about the small black bird with a red head. Does it have a totally black body with a totally red head? Please describe it in more detail.