For the past week there has been a blue tit pecking almost constantly at the wing mirrors of the cars on our drive. It flies up to the mirror, obviously sees itself relfected and thinks this is a rival. This happens for about five minutes and then the tit flies away for about five or ten minutes and then returns. It doesn't seem to matter to the tit whether it is my husband's car or mine.

Has anyone come across this before. We have lived here for twenty years and have always had tits in the garden, but have never notice this behaviour before.

I have not seen this behaviour myself, but have heared a few folk comment on it (pub talk), though they have mainly been Robins.

Hello Bobbytu, welcome to the forums!

That is very strange behaviour, I've never seen it before but I think it would be fascinating to watch. Perhaps this time of year is when they get particularly aggressive with other birds?

Three years ago I was visiting a country park near Scunthorpe. On returning to my car in the car park to go home, I saw a peacock viscously attacking the highly polished car parked just in front of mine. I went over and tried to drive the peacock away but all it did was move round to the other side of the car and start attacking that side. I looked at the first side and it was seriously scratched to the point that I thought that it was going to need a respray. I then decided that as I was on my own there was little more I could do, so I got into my car, drove to the car park entrance and told the attendant who called the park Rangers. Never have I been more pleased that my laziness in cleaning my car meant that the peacock couldn't see its reflection in my car.

Dogwood, if ever there was an excuse for not cleaning the car that's it!

I've never seen any bird do this before, in real life. I saw this picture the other day though, which was a strange coincidence.



The original page is at http://frostfirezoo.com

It is quite a common occurance for birds to 'attack' their own reflection at this time of year. Ive seen Chaffinch and Pied Wagtail doing the same to car wing mirrors!

Why do you think it is more common this time of the year? Are the birds more aggressive because they're looking for potential mates?

Wow - now thats a great excuse for not spending precious bird watching time cleaning my car - a peacock might attack it. (I don't think that many people would understand that one!!)

Yeah, basically, it's pure aggression towards what the bird thinks is a rival.

Thanks to everyone who replied. Riana's photograph is exactly what is happening. And two weeks after it started, the blue tit is still at it.

A friend from the pub, who used to run a wild life rescue, suggested that itmay be narcissistic behaviour, that the bird has fallen in love with its own reflection.

My own worry is that the poor little thing is going to wear itself out and not find a mate.

Regards to all bobbytu.

Ps Have just looked at the back garden - there are several robins, blackbirds, tits, wood pigeons, collared doves, a thrush, chaffinch. And we also have jackdaws in the chimney.

We have got blue tits doing this too, we are in Berkshire. They are also flying at our back door which is obscured glass. It has been going on for a few weeks but it is not behaviour we have noticed in previous years so we have been really surprised!

I've saw a blue tit doing this last weekend and it's back today doing the same. Here's a pic - not as good as riana's!

This post was last modified: 29-03-2008 09:36 AM by dobbyj.

Hello everyone,

I am having the very same problem with a Chaffinch attacking my, any may partner's, cars. It's to the point where it is doing damage to the glass.

Does anybody have any suggestions as to make it stop? I have a video of it and countless pictures. At one point it was so intent on attacking the car (or it's reflection) that I actually managed to catch it.

I let it go after the picture but now regret not feeding it to the neighbour's cat!

That would be the VERY LAST thing to do; literally! Might I suggest putting like a litte dummy or scarecrow next to the car while it is parked?

Welcome to WildlifeUK by the way!