Ultrasonic vs Visual Bird Scarers: Which Should You Choose?

Written and reviewed by Elaine Bliss, Technical Manager, PestFix
Last reviewed 5 October 2026

Use an ultrasonic bird deterrent when you need to protect a defined, unobstructed space such as a balcony, a canopy, an atrium or a covered loading area, where you can mount a unit with a clear line of sight to where the birds settle and run it from mains or battery power. Use a visual scarer such as a hawk kite, a predator decoy or reflective ribbon when you need to cover open ground, gardens, allotments, crops or large flat roofs, with no power supply. Ultrasonic units cost from £115.20 and visual scarers from £8.81, including VAT. Where birds roost or nest on a building, spikes or netting stop them landing, and scarers work best as part of that wider plan.

Prices checked on 5 October 2026 and taken from the EnviroGuard shop. All prices include VAT.

Ultrasonic and visual scarers side by side

The products compared

Ultrasonic deterrents

The Balcony Guard ultrasonic bird deterrent costs £115.20. It mounts on its built in wall bracket on a balcony, ledge, sill or parapet, covers up to 65 square metres with a range of 8 to 10 metres in front of the speaker, and can run constantly or be triggered by its motion sensor. It comes with a mains adapter on a 10 metre lead and can also take four C batteries. Its product page notes that it is not bird specific and may affect any mammal within 8 to 10 metres, which is worth knowing if you keep pets.

For larger spaces, the UltrasonX 4-channel ultrasonic deterrent, £1,067.10, runs four weatherproof speakers on 30 metre cables and covers up to 330 square metres, under canopies, eaves, porches, courtyards, car park decks and outdoor eating areas. The Broadband Pro, £1,305.50, adds audible distress cries, predator calls and harassment sounds to the ultrasonics, for gulls and pigeons in large open spaces. Its product page advises removing food sources and clearing nest sites first, within the law, for it to be fully effective. For indoor, enclosed spaces, the Quadblaster QB-4, £918.00, and the Super Quadblaster with an integrated strobe light, £1,030.00, vary their pitch and sequence so birds find it harder to get used to the sound.

Visual scarers

The hawk kite with 7 metre pole, £37.68, flies on a tether and imitates a bird of prey over open ground, playing fields, landfill and industrial roofs, protecting about 20 acres of flat land. It needs at least 40 square metres of clear space away from trees and power lines, a daily check, and bringing down in winds above Beaufort Force 6. A screw-in fixing kit, from £9.63, holds the pole on a wall or fence, and a replacement kite costs £24.50.

For gardens and smaller spaces, the wind action owl decoy, £26.40, has a head that spins in the wind and reflective eyes. The Prowler Owl, £90.82, has a 120cm wingspan with wings that flap in the breeze and mounts on a pole. Terror Eyes, £89.34, is a 60cm inflatable ball with holographic eyes that hangs from a spring so it keeps moving, for balconies, trees, gardens, fields and aerials. Holographic bird repeller ribbon, £8.81 for 30 metres, flashes and rustles as it moves, and is used on boats, loading bays, crops, allotments, fruit trees and newly seeded lawns.

Audible distress call scarers

A third option sits between the two. The BirdXPeller Pro, £423.24, plays the distress calls of pigeons, gulls, starlings and sparrows, covering up to an acre of open ground at full volume. Its product page advises using it alongside visual scarers for better results, moving it and varying the call intervals so birds do not get used to it, and allowing 2 to 3 weeks for it to take full effect. Our bird scaring page explains how distress calls work on different species.

A worked example

Suppose pigeons are landing on a 4 metre wide balcony and on the lawn of the garden below it.

• Balcony: one Balcony Guard, £115.20, covers up to 65 square metres within 8 to 10 metres of the speaker, provided it has a clear line of sight across the balcony. If you have pets that use the balcony, Terror Eyes at £89.34 is a visual alternative designed for balconies.
• Lawn: a wind action owl at £26.40 and a 30 metre box of holographic ribbon at £8.81, which is £35.21 together. If the garden has 40 square metres of clear space with no trees or power lines, the hawk kite at £37.68 is another option.

That is £150.41 for the Balcony Guard, owl and ribbon together.

Which should you choose?

• A balcony, sill or parapet with a power supply: the Balcony Guard ultrasonic deterrent.
• A balcony with pets nearby, or no power: Terror Eyes or a predator decoy.
• Canopies, eaves, courtyards, car park decks and outdoor eating areas: the UltrasonX, positioned with a clear line of sight.
• Indoor, enclosed or semi enclosed spaces: the Quadblaster or Super Quadblaster.
• Gardens, allotments, fruit trees and lawns: owl decoys, Terror Eyes or reflective ribbon.
• Open ground, playing fields, landfill and large flat roofs: the hawk kite.
• Gulls or pigeons across a large open area: the Broadband Pro or a BirdXPeller Pro, with visual scarers alongside.
• Birds roosting or nesting on a ledge, roof or under solar panels: proofing such as bird spikes, netting or solar panel mesh, which stop birds landing in the first place.

When to combine them

Combining is often the better plan. The BirdXPeller Pro product page advises using it with visual scarers, the Peregrine Falcon decoy is designed to support ultrasonic and audible deterrents, and the hawk kite product page recommends using it alongside proofing such as bird spikes or netting on the ledges and roof areas birds use most. For gulls, our guide on how to keep seagulls away shows how scarers and proofing fit together.

The law and active nests

All wild birds are protected, and an active nest with eggs or young in it must not be disturbed. The hawk kite product page notes that it is not suited to sites where birds are already nesting, so put scarers in place before the nesting season, and if a nest is in use, wait until it is empty. Our guide to bird control and the law explains what you can and cannot do.

Common questions

What is the best pigeon scarer?

It depends on where the pigeons are. On a balcony or ledge with a power supply, an ultrasonic deterrent such as the Balcony Guard suits. In gardens and allotments, owl decoys, Terror Eyes and reflective ribbon need no power. On open ground and large flat roofs, the hawk kite covers about 20 acres. Where pigeons roost or nest on a building, spikes or netting stop them landing.

What is the best bird scarer for a garden?

Visual scarers suit most gardens because they need no power. The wind action owl is designed for keeping pests out of gardens, Terror Eyes can hang in trees or on balconies, and holographic ribbon suits fruit trees, allotments and newly seeded lawns. A hawk kite needs at least 40 square metres of clear space.

Do ultrasonic bird repellers work?

They are designed for defined spaces where the speaker has a clear line of sight to the birds, because the sound does not travel around corners or through solid objects. The product pages describe coverage of 8 to 10 metres in front of each speaker. For a large open site, a visual or audible scarer, or several speakers, suits better.

Do hawk kites work?

A hawk kite imitates a bird of prey hovering over the area it guards, and it moves with the wind, which keeps pest birds wary of the ground or roof below. It works best when it is checked regularly, kept flying freely and used alongside proofing where birds perch or roost on buildings.

Are ultrasonic bird deterrents safe for pets?

The Balcony Guard product page notes that it is not bird specific and may affect any mammal within 8 to 10 metres of the speaker. If pets use the area, a visual scarer avoids that.

Browse our full bird scarers range, including ultrasonic deterrents and visual bird scarers, or visit our bird control installers page to see who fits what.