Visual Bird Scarers

Choosing a visual bird scarer

Visual bird scarers work on a bird’s instinct to avoid predators and sudden, unpredictable movement. None of the scarers below needs mains power. Most rely on the wind or a spring for movement, or on sunlight to flash and glow, while static decoys such as the Birdmark Afterglow and the Peregrine Falcon Decoy do not move at all. Choose by where the birds are and how much ground you need to cover.

For the Hawk Kite you will also find the screw-in fixing kit for timber and masonry (one per kite) and Hawk Kite spares in this range.

Getting the best from a visual scarer

Birds tend to get used to anything that never changes, which is why most of the scarers here are designed to move. The Terror Eyes page suggests moving the unit occasionally, and it makes sense to do the same with any decoy. The Hawk Kite is different: its constant movement in the wind is what makes it convincing, so its guidance is to check it daily, keep it flying freely and bring it down in strong winds.

Visual scarers also work well alongside sound. The distress call units in our wider range of bird scarers, such as the BirdXPeller Pro, advise pairing with visual scarers for better results. On buildings, the Hawk Kite guidance is to use it with proofing such as bird spikes or bird netting on the ledges and roof areas birds use most. Pigeons under solar panels are best kept out with solar panel exclusion.

Scaring birds away is legal; harming them is not. All wild birds are protected and active nests must not be disturbed, so the Hawk Kite is not suited to sites where birds are already nesting. Please read bird control and the law before you start.

Visual bird scarer questions

Do fake birds of prey scare pigeons?

A fake bird of prey plays on a pigeon’s instinct to avoid predators. The Hawk Kite names pigeons, gulls and starlings, and covers approximately 20 acres of flat land. Decoys that move, such as the Prowler Owl with its flapping wings or the Wind Action Owl Decoy with its spinning head, give birds more to react to than a fixed figure. If pigeons are already roosting on a ledge, bird spikes are usually the more reliable fix.

Do fake owls scare pigeons?

A fake owl can help to deter pigeons, but neither owl decoy’s product page names pigeons or gives a success rate, so it is best used as one part of a plan rather than a fix on its own. The Prowler Owl has wings that flap and make sound in the breeze, and the Wind Action Owl Decoy has a head that spins in the wind, which gives birds more to react to than a fixed figure. The Peregrine Falcon Decoy is a free standing bird of prey that does not move, and its product page suggests using it in support of audio deterrents. The Terror Eyes page suggests moving the unit occasionally, and it makes sense to do the same with an owl. Of the bird of prey scarers here, the Hawk Kite is the one whose product page names pigeons.

Can I use a visual scarer against seagulls?

Yes. Gulls are one of the pest birds the Hawk Kite is used against, including on industrial and commercial roofs. For a fuller plan that includes proofing, read our guide on how to keep seagulls away.

Do visual bird scarers need power?

No. Most of the scarers in this range rely on the wind or a spring for movement, or on sunlight to flash and glow, and the static decoys need no power at all. The flight diverters need good sunlight (a UV index of 3 or more is best) to glow after dark, and the Hawk Kite needs only a light breeze to fly.