Determine bird droppings: which bird was it? | 5 images

Thick or small piles of droppings on the terrace, the balcony or on the house wall indicate that there are birds here. From the different types of bird droppings, it is possible to determine which birds are nesting here. Especially those who feed with fat balls or even in a bird feeder should not be surprised about one or the other bird droppings. The following article provides information about which birds could be in the neighborhood.

identify bird droppings

It is not at all easy to determine which birds are in the garden, on the balcony or on the terrace if only the bird droppings are examined closely. As a rule, this is white, since it is urine and solid components at the same time. Because birds have only one body opening for their legacy, from which both are excreted at the same time. So the dark part is the actual feces and the white center is urine. It also happens that a heap of feces is completely white, then the urine component predominates. Furthermore, the following is important for determining bird droppings:

  • solid faeces during dry periods
  • Birds then drink too little water
  • colored droppings indicate the food
  • For example, berries give red color
  • often occurs in autumn
  • greenish after eating vegetables

Identifying and distinguishing between the individual birds based on the droppings can often be very difficult, since the bird droppings often only differ in size, but not in consistency.

Note: Bird droppings should always have a fairly solid, dark portion. If this is soft and light-colored, then it is usually a question of improper nutrition, which can also damage the birds’ health over a longer period of time.

Amseln (Turdus merula)

While blackbirds used to be more likely to be found in the forest, they have adapted over the centuries and are increasingly appearing in gardens and residential areas. Since the proportion of urine in the faeces of blackbirds is not so evident, blackbird faeces are more reminiscent of rat or mouse faeces, but are usually larger. The following legacies are found in the garden when there are many blackbirds around:

  • long and dark
  • very firm consistency
  • a white part is hardly recognizable
Note: If you discover feces on the wall or on the stones of the terrace or balcony, you should remove it immediately so that no damage can occur. If the droppings are still fresh, it is quite sufficient if you counteract them with a little washing-up liquid and warm water.

Blaumeisen (Parus caeruleus)

Blue tits, like great tits and other species of tits, populate the home gardens. However, these birds do not appear in flocks, as is the case with sparrows, for example. If you find a lot of white-dark small bird droppings under the hedge, then it is very likely that a tit or another songbird has nested here. In such a case, the spot in the hedge should be left completely alone so that the birds can nest and raise their offspring in peace.

Note: With many songbirds, such as tits, robins, chaffinches, bullfinches or even wrens, the legacies often cannot be clearly assigned, as they all look very similar when the birds are healthy.

Elstern (Pica Pica)

Magpies belong to the raven family and are therefore birds of prey that are not often seen in residential areas. Nevertheless, they are often found near people. Unfortunately, other songbirds are driven away by the large magpies. Since these are birds of prey, they often excrete pellets that look like this:

  • round, dark pads
  • grainy consistency
  • about two centimeters tall
Tip: If you find small structures on your balcony or terrace from which feathers, wool or even small bones are sticking out, then it is not bird droppings but so-called pellets that various species of birds of prey, such as magpies or owls, regurgitate. These are undigested parts that are not excreted at the back, but are spat out again through the beak.

Owls (Strigiformes)

Just like the magpies, the owls can also be recognized by their wool. These look quite similar to the pads of the magpie, but are a lot larger. The wool of owls and other birds of prey looks like this:

  • round and solid
  • greyish colour
  • about three to four inches tall
  • small bones, hair, feathers and other things can be seen
Tip: Bird species that excrete pellets include storks, kingfishers, shrikes, seagulls, cuckoos and herons.

Mauersegler (Apus apus)

Common swifts can often be found in cities and streets. They have adapted well here over the centuries. The droppings of the swift are usually medium-firm and have a white crest. In a healthy bird, the whole thing is still surrounded by an elastic skin. However, if the swift’s droppings are greenish to black, stringy in appearance, or even runny and smelly, then it is droppings from a sick bird.

Note: If you want to determine the bird droppings, keep in mind that this not only differs between different bird species, but can also depend on the seasons. Because depending on which berries the birds have eaten, the color of the droppings also changes.

Sparrows (Passer domesticus)

The little sparrows, also often house sparrows, can often be found in the home gardens and on balconies in the city. They excrete the same bird droppings as all birds that feed on plants. Here’s what healthy sparrow droppings look like:

  • white core
  • long, dark, solid stools
  • wraps itself around the white core
  • only very small
  • about a millimeter in circumference

The bird droppings from the sparrows, which are actually small, can also become quite unpleasant for you if the sparrows populate a tree in the garden or in front of the house in flocks. The small birds also like to build their nests under the roof in the gaps if they find a place to slip in there.

Pigeons (Columbidae)

Pigeon droppings are often associated with large white patches on the walls of houses and on ledges and balconies. Even if this is pigeon droppings, the animals were poorly fed. Many city pigeons have to eat whatever they can find on the street, which can include a piece of bratwurst, but mostly it’s stale bread and baked goods that the

What: HTO / Public domain

Looking for pigeons for food. This also results in the state of health and this is reflected in the pigeon droppings. Because normally the pigeon droppings does not look any different than that of the other bird species, but can still be easily identified. The droppings of well-fed carrier pigeons therefore have the following consistency:

  • dark to black long solid portion
  • in the middle and all around white urine
  • about two centimeters in diameter
  • can be easily removed
Tip: Many cities are already setting up so-called pigeon houses, in which the birds are also fed healthily. If you have a lot of pigeons in your area, then it makes more sense not to want to drive them away, but to offer healthy food. Then the pigeon droppings from healthy animals are no longer so important.

Kira Bellingham

I'm a homes writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience in publishing. I have worked across many titles, including Ideal Home and, of course, Homes & Gardens. My day job is as Chief Group Sub Editor across the homes and interiors titles in the group. This has given me broad experience in interiors advice on just about every subject. I'm obsessed with interiors and delighted to be part of the Homes & Gardens team.

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