Small bird constantly pecking on the window

DEAR JOAN >> A small bird has been pecking at a very high window on our house for about four days. It is only during the day, thankfully, and if it weren’t for shelterin-place, we probably would never know.

The bird is mostly gray, with pinkish red on the front of his or her neck, and a patch of white below that. Sometimes it seems there is another bird with him or her, but not pecking. Any idea why he or she is doing this? Is it some sort of nesting ritual perhaps?

DEAR PAM >> It’s not a mating ritual, but it does have to do with mating season.

The bird at your window, a male, is trying to protect his territory and the nest his mate is sitting in, from a dastardly intruder that just won’t go away — his own reflection. Instead of recognizing his own image, he just sees another bird, and so he pecks at the window to make it go away.

Only one bird — the magpie — has shown an ability to recognize itself. Scientists put a lot of different animals through the mirror test to see which ones have that self awareness. They put a removable dye on the animal, then put it in front of a mirror. If the animal touches the mark on its own body, it’s an indication it knows the image in the mirror is its own.

Elephants passed with flying colors, as did chimpanzees. Gorillas failed, but dolphins and whales passed. Pigs surprised researchers. They know that the mirror has a reflection and they use mirrors to find food, but they aren’t quite sure that the pigs in the mirror are them.

To keep your bird from driving you crazy, and to refocus the birds’ attention back to nest building, baby making and feeding, try eliminating the reflective nature of the window by closing the curtains or putting newspaper on the glass. As trees get leafier and the sun’s position shifts, you’ll only need the preventive measures for a while.

DEAR JOAN >> I have been seeing a couple white doves feeding in my backyard along with the usual gray doves. I have never seen the white doves before. Are they pets?

DEAR LYNN >> They likely are rock doves, also known as release doves or white pigeons, and while they could be pets that have escaped, my guess is that they were part of a flock of doves released in celebration at a wedding, or as a memorial at a funeral.

The birds are supposed to return to their lofts, but they are bred for size and color, not their homing abilities, and often they become disoriented or frightened and don’t attempt the journey home.

Sadly, because they are domesticated and have no survival experience, many are killed by predators when released into the wild. Others starve or freeze to death because they don’t know how to take care of themselves.

It would appear the pair at your house have found sanctuary with the mourning doves, who are at least teaching these birds where to find food.

Release doves are different from trained white homing pigeons. These birds are trained to return to their homes even when released up to

600 miles away, although bad things can happen to them, too