How to Stop a Woodpecker from Knocking on Your House

Florida is home to various species of woodpecker. They are often looked at as harmless species that attract some fascination by humans. They are pretty birds and are a favorite of many birdwatchers. But, what happens when a woodpecker decides to start knocking on your house? Why is it doing that? How can you stop it?

First lets get into the types of woodpecker you may see in Florida:

Hairy Woodpecker – A medium sized bird with a square head and chisel-like bill that is equal length to its head.

Red-Headed Woodpecker – A bird that you may see more in open fields and less dense forestry.

Downy Woodpecker – A small bird that you may see at your backyard feeder.

Red-Bellied Woodpecker – Strange name for this bird as its head is red and not its belly. This is one of the more common woodpeckers found in Brevard County, Florida.

Why are they knocking?

1. To build a nest.
2. To attract mates.
3. To search for food.
4. To scare other birds away.

Now, here are some steps you can take to stop these birds from knocking on your house:

1. Get rid of food supply. If you have bugs/termites, get your home treated. The removal of food source may make the bird go elsewhere.
2. Seal up any holes that the bird has made with a patching compound. You can then place metal flashing, tin can tops, or quarter-inch hardware cloth over the patched area to prevent further damage.
3. To keep birds from returning, three quarter-inch garden netting can be anchored three-inches from the wall of the structure.
4. You can duct tape aluminum pie cans to the area.
5. You can buy plastic owl decoys.