Resource
Bird Nesting Season Guide
When each commercial pest bird courts, nests, and fledges — by species and by region — and how to time exclusion work around it.
When Is Bird Nesting Season?
Across most of the United States, bird nesting season runs from March through August, peaking in May, June, and July. Timing shifts by species and by region: gulls and swallows are tightly seasonal, starlings and sparrows stack multiple broods across spring and summer, and rock pigeons breed year-round inside heated or sheltered commercial structures.
For facility managers, that calendar matters twice. First, an active nest with eggs or young from a federally protected species cannot legally be disturbed. Second, exclusion installed before courtship begins prevents an entire season of droppings, contamination, and cleanup.
Nesting Calendar
Nesting Season by Species & Region
Select your region to see the month-by-month nesting window for each species.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Pigeon | Feb–Nov | ||||||||||||
| House Sparrow | Mar–Oct | ||||||||||||
| European Starling | Mar–Sep | ||||||||||||
| Gulls | Apr–Sep | ||||||||||||
| Woodpeckers | Apr–Sep | ||||||||||||
| Canada Goose | Mar–Aug | ||||||||||||
| Swallows | Apr–Sep | ||||||||||||
| Vultures | Apr–Sep |
Inactive Courtship / site prep Nesting / egg-laying Peak: chicks & fledging
Nesting Habits by Species
Rock Pigeon
- Nest sites
- Sheltered ledges, I-beams, HVAC equipment, signage cavities, parapet walls, and inside open warehouse structures.
- Broods per year
- 3–6 broods per year in commercial settings — year-round in the South and in heated buildings
- Clutch size
- 1–2 white eggs per clutch
- Legal status
- Not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Control is legal in all 50 states, subject to local ordinances.
House Sparrow
- Nest sites
- Signage, HVAC equipment, exhaust vents, wall cavities, canopy corners, and any cavity 1.25 inches or larger.
- Broods per year
- 2–4 broods per year; commonly year-round in heated interior spaces
- Clutch size
- 4–5 eggs per clutch, pale with brown speckling
- Legal status
- Non-native invasive species. Not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Control is legal nationwide.
European Starling
- Nest sites
- Cavities in signage, exhaust vents, dryer vents, HVAC gaps, drainpipes, and any hole 1.5 inches or larger.
- Broods per year
- 2 broods per year in most regions
- Clutch size
- 4–6 pale blue eggs
- Legal status
- Non-native invasive species. Not protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Control is legal in all 50 states.
Gulls
- Nest sites
- Flat gravel rooftops, HVAC platforms, parapet corners, and any elevated flat surface with a sight line.
- Broods per year
- 1 brood per year; will re-nest if the first clutch fails
- Clutch size
- 2–3 olive-brown eggs with dark blotches
- Legal status
- Protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Nest removal, egg oiling, and lethal control require federal (USFWS) and, in most cases, state depredation permits.
Woodpeckers
- Nest sites
- Excavated cavities in dead wood, siding, fascia boards, wood trim, and even foam-clad exterior insulation.
- Broods per year
- 1 brood per year in most northern regions; 2 broods in southern regions
- Clutch size
- 3–6 white eggs
- Legal status
- Protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal control requires a USFWS depredation permit. Exclusion, deterrents, and habitat modification are the legal front-line tools.
Canada Goose
- Nest sites
- Ground nests on islands, pond edges, planter beds, rooftops, and elevated ledges near water.
- Broods per year
- 1 brood per year; will re-nest only if the first is lost early
- Clutch size
- 4–7 creamy white eggs
- Legal status
- Protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Egg addling, nest removal, and roundups require USFWS and state permits. Habitat modification, hazing, and exclusion are the legal front line.
Swallows
- Nest sites
- Barn swallows: open cup on a ledge, rafter, or light fixture under an overhang. Cliff swallows: enclosed gourd-shaped mud nests plastered to vertical walls just beneath an overhang, often in colonies of dozens to hundreds.
- Broods per year
- 1–2 broods per year
- Clutch size
- 3–5 white eggs with brown spotting
- Legal status
- Federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Active nests (containing eggs or young) cannot be disturbed. Exclusion netting and nest deterrents must be installed before nest construction begins or after young have fully fledged; removal of an active nest requires a USFWS depredation permit.
Vultures
- Nest sites
- Ground-level cavities — hollow logs, abandoned buildings, rock crevices, dense thickets, and undisturbed corners of vacant industrial structures. No nest is built; eggs are laid on bare substrate.
- Broods per year
- 1 brood per year
- Clutch size
- 1–3 eggs (typically 2), pale with dark blotches
- Legal status
- Federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Lethal control requires a USFWS depredation permit. Non-lethal harassment (effigies, pyrotechnics, lasers) and exclusion (spikes, shock track, netting on protected roost surfaces) are the legal first line and are highly effective when applied consistently.
Timing Exclusion Around Nesting Season
- Late fall to late winter — the ideal window. Install bird netting, spikes, shock track, and optical gel before courtship and site selection begin.
- Early spring — inspect and seal. Walk rooftops, canopies, soffits, and vents for last year's nesting material before birds return to it.
- Peak season (May–July) — deterrent and sanitation work only. Active nests of protected species stay untouched; we scope and schedule exclusion for after fledging.
- Late summer to early fall — remove abandoned nests, clean and disinfect, then close the openings that produced them.
Bird Nesting Season FAQ
For most commercial pest birds in the United States, nesting season runs from roughly March through August, with peak chick and fledging activity in May, June, and July. Pigeons are the exception — they nest year-round wherever a building provides shelter and a steady food source.
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