The Best Bird Deterrents to Protect Your Property Without Harming Birds

Bird deterrents can help keep feathered visitors from turning your carefully nurtured garden into their personal buffet or causing damage to your porch, patio, and other outdoor spaces. While birdwatching is a beloved hobby, you may not want birds feasting on the fruits and vegetables you’ve been working hard to grow or leaving droppings where you entertain or relax. 

To help you identify the most effective ways to deter birds safely and humanely, we consulted a pest control expert and evaluated a wide range of products designed to keep unwanted flying wildlife at bay. Our top pick is the Aspectek Stainless Steel Bird Spikes Kit for its effective and long-lasting humane protection, ease of installation, and overall value. Read on to learn more about this and several other excellent options as well as top factors to consider when choosing one of the best bird deterrents for your outdoor space. 

1. BEST OVERALL: Aspectek Stainless Steel Bird Spikes Kit
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2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bird B Gone Plastic Bird Spikes
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3. BEST FAKE OWL: Dalen 16-Inch Great Horned Owl Decoy
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4. BEST SPIKES: Bird-X Stainless Steel Bird Spikes
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5. BEST HANGING: Hausse Bird Repellent Hanging Reflector Rods
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TyBird Deterrents Comparison

Our Top Picks

Birds are beautiful, but they can become a nuisance when they leave droppings all over your deck or peck at tomatoes just turning ripe. The bird deterrent devices​ below can help you keep birds off your porch and away from your garden.

These stainless steel bird deterrent spikes from Aspectek are a highly effective, low-maintenance solution for keeping birds off your property. Designed to deter pigeons, gulls, crows, and other medium to large birds, the spikes make it uncomfortable (but not harmful) for birds to land, encouraging them to move on without injury.

This pick provides 10 feet of durable stainless steel spikes mounted on a UV-resistant polycarbonate base. The base has pre-drilled holes and a glue trough, so you can mount it with screws, adhesive, zip ties, or the included silicone glue. It’s also flexible up to 360 degrees, which makes it easy to install on curved or uneven surfaces like beams, ledges, fences, posts, gutters, or even around satellite dishes and antennas. 

Although quite effective against larger birds, some smaller species may still squeeze through the spike spacing, so you may want to pair this kit with netting or other sensory deterrents. Overall, the Aspectek bird spikes offer long-lasting, weather-resistant defense against bird droppings and nesting, making them a great option for both residential and commercial use.

Get the Aspectek bird deterrent at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Aspectek.

Ideal for ledges, fences, and window sills, Bird B Gone’s plastic bird spikes are a simple and affordable way to keep larger birds from landing where they’re not welcome. While it’s available in several sizes, the 10-foot set includes five preassembled 2-foot-long by 5-inch-wide strips with 1-inch breakaway segments for easy customization during installation.

The plastic spikes in this set are made from UV-stabilized polycarbonate to help them resist weather damage without corroding or becoming brittle. You can attach them using glue, screws, or zip-ties, and their non-metal construction makes them safe for use near electrical equipment. Just be aware that spikes are effective as a preventive deterrent, but they don’t always work once birds have chosen a spot for nesting. If birds have already settled in, users will want to remove bird nests (if legally allowed) before installing spikes to prevent future activity.

Get the Bird B Gone bird deterrent (various sizes) at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Bird B Gone.

By mimicking a predator, the Dalen great horned owl decoy acts as a natural bird repellent​ for species like pigeons and sparrows. The hand-painted, realistic design is 16 inches tall by 7.25 inches wide by 7.5 inches deep and made from weather-resistant, non-toxic materials for long-lasting outdoor use. 

Installing this owl is straightforward: Simply fill it with sand or gravel and use the predrilled hole in the base to mount it to a post, porch, or railing. Since birds can become accustomed to its presence over time, you’ll need to move it regularly for it to remain effective. Also, persistent or highly intelligent species like crows, ospreys, starlings, and some songbirds will likely figure out the decoy isn’t an actual threat and learn to ignore it. Still, this option is affordable, easy to use, and also doubles as a decorative garden addition.

Get the Dalen bird deterrent at Amazon, Ace Hardware, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Wayfair, Walmart, Target, or Dalen.

These Bird-X stainless steel bird spikes are a heavy-duty, maintenance-free way to create bird-free zones on ledges, rooftops, signage, and other vulnerable areas. Made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel with a UV-stabilized polycarbonate base, they’re built to hold up in harsh weather without breaking down or bending. Each strip is 6 inches wide and 1 foot in length, and kits come in several sizes, including 10 feet, 24 feet, 50 feet, or 100 feet. 

The base of these bird deterrent spikes is flexible and has predrilled holes, making installation using screws, adhesive, or zip ties easy, even on rounded or uneven surfaces. Once installed, the spikes create a physical but humane barrier that prevents birds from settling. However, they’re most effective as a preventive measure, meaning small or especially persistent birds, such as magpies, crows, or woodpeckers, may still attempt to build nests directly on top of or around the spikes.

Get the Bird-X bird deterrent (various sizes) at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, Target, or Bird-X.

The Hausse hanging reflector rods are a low-effort way to help keep birds out of your garden or off your balcony. Sold in sets of 10 or 30, each bird deterrent spinner rotates and glints in the sunlight, creating unpredictable flashes of light that startle birds like pigeons, woodpeckers, and geese. To install, you simply hang each rod 1 to 2 inches apart in your desired location to create bird-safe windows, gutters, fences, railings, or trees. 

Made from weather-resistant plastic, these spinners are designed to hold up in the sun, wind, and rain. Just keep in mind they’re most effective when spaced out and repositioned occasionally. Because they rely solely on visual disruption, highly determined or adaptive birds may begin to ignore them over time. Since they’re so attractive, though, you likely won’t mind the decorative touch their swirling, mirrored finish adds to your outdoor space.

Get the Hausse bird deterrent (various sizes) at Amazon.

How We Chose the Best Bird Deterrents

To choose which products to feature on our list, we considered deterrent type, coverage area, ease of installation, and overall value. We looked at top-rated bird deterrents across multiple categories and focused on products with high customer satisfaction and proven performance.

While spike bird deterrents are the most popular for their effectiveness and durability, we also included other popular options, like a realistic owl decoy to scare off larger birds and reflective rods to help deter smaller species. Most of our picks offer around 10 feet of coverage, are easy to install with basic tools or adhesive, and are made from weather-resistant materials like stainless steel or UV-treated polycarbonate for long-term outdoor use.

Types of Bird Deterrents 

Three main types of bird deterrents are most commonly used to shoo birds away from gardens and other property areas, including spikes, rods, and fake owls. Each kind of deterrent has pros and cons. 

Spikes 

Spike deterrents are, as the name implies, literal spikes attached to a strip of clear plastic or metal. The points, which are made of metal or plastic, vary in number and length depending on the product. Spike deterrents are particularly effective for deterring larger birds like crows, pigeons, gulls, blackbirds, and grackles from landing or roosting. 

While some gardeners worry that spike deterrents are cruel, birds are not actually harmed by the spikes. Typically, they recognize and avoid the spikes before attempting to land, so direct contact is rare. However, it’s important to note that spike deterrents are less effective for smaller, agile birds like sparrows, starlings, and swallows, as these species can sometimes maneuver between the points or nest within them.

Rods

Rod deterrents are typically made of metal or plastic and have a sparkly or reflective finish that confuses birds as they approach. Since they can’t determine where to land, they often avoid the area entirely. 

These deterrents are commonly used to keep larger birds like pigeons, crows, blackbirds, and grackles out of gardens or off structures. However, they tend to be less effective for small, highly adaptable birds like sparrows, starlings, and swallows, which often grow accustomed to visual deterrents over time. Additionally, while the light reflections may occasionally startle birds of prey such as hawks, these species are generally not reliably deterred by visual-only solutions. 

As is the case with solar birdbath fountains, many rod deterrents are designed to be decorative as well as functional. They’re generally easy to hang from trees, poles, railings, or other horizontal or vertical surfaces. 

Decoy Owls

Fake owls can be effective visual deterrents to keep smaller birds or garden pests away, especially if the decoy looks realistic and features motion or light-up eyes. However, they aren’t generally good at deterring larger birds of prey, such as hawks or real owls, since most raptors quickly recognize that a motionless plastic decoy isn’t a real threat. 

For more intelligent or bold bird species, a motion-activated bird deterrent may work a bit better, though an electronic bird deterrent may be noisy and not ideal in quiet neighborhoods. Regardless of bird species, the best approach with a fake owl is to move it regularly and pair it with other types of deterrents to prevent birds from becoming accustomed to them.. 

What to Look for When Choosing a Bird Deterrent 

In addition to deterrent type, you’ll want to consider the following key features when shopping for the best bird deterrent.

Effectiveness 

Not all deterrents are created equal, and they will not all work for every type of bird. Take a week or two to watch the birds in your garden, and then investigate which deterrent is best-suited for those particular birds. On the whole, deterrents for smaller birds are likely to work for almost all small birds, while deterrents for larger birds usually work for every large bird. 

Life Cycle 

While shopping for a bird deterrent, investigate how long the product is expected to last, as these outdoor products will experience some wear and tear even in a temperate climate zone. Weather conditions like rain, snow, wind, and sun can slowly wear down even high-quality bird deterrents. 

If you live in a harsher, colder climate that frequently experiences snow and storms, consider investing in a hardier deterrent. Metal spikes and rods typically last longer than plastic, but they may be a more significant upfront investment. Fake owls are usually made with plastic, and if they have moving parts or lights, they can fail and need maintenance or replacement.

Environmental Friendliness 

Today’s bird deterrents are typically environmentally friendly, but some may be less so. As mentioned, spike deterrents can look scary, but they are entirely safe and harmless to birds. 

Rod deterrents typically are not harmful to birds; however, if the manufacturer used stickers to create their shine or sparkle, they could peel off over time. Birds or other small animals could find and eat those stickers. Watch for these issues and proactively replace or remove parts or entire products when they’re no longer safe. 

Ease of Installation and Use

All of the bird deterrents included in this guide are relatively easy to install.

• Spikes are typically attached to a strip of metal and plastic and must be secured to a surface with nails, screws, or adhesive. 
• Rods are usually hung from tree branches or poles, similar to bird feeder poles. If you have a tree near your garden, installing a rod bird deterrent is generally easy. However, if tree limbs are too high or you don’t have a nearby tree, installation can be more challenging.
• Fake owls are relatively simple to set up. Most come with two screws and have a base with predrilled holes for mounting on a fence post or deck railing. You may want to weigh them down by filling them with sand or gravel, and if they’re motion-activated or have light-up eyes, you’ll need to install batteries before use. 

FAQs

If you still have some questions about bird deterrents or birds in general, the following frequently asked questions and their corresponding answers may help.

 

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