Hello.

 

This bird showed up this evening and looks like it wants to stay for awhile.  It left for about 5 minutes and then came back.  It is still on our light outside and it's now midnight.

 

Does anyone know what type of bird this is?  I've attached a photo of it.  It let me get pretty close and it did not flinch.

 

Thanks.

It's a barn swallow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barn_Swallow

Thanks for your reply, OTR.

 

I looked at that picture and it doesn't seem to me to be a Barn Swallow.  The bird in my photo has mainly dark brown or grayish (dark) feathers (guestimate - it was getting dark) with an orange stomach area and about the size of a slightly-overweight woodpecker, but it is definitely not a woodpecker.  I wonder if it was someone's pet that got away?

Thanks for your reply, OTR.

 

I looked at that picture and it doesn't seem to me to be a Barn Swallow.  The bird in my photo has mainly dark brown or grayish (dark) feathers (guestimate - it was getting dark) with an orange stomach area and about the size of a slightly-overweight woodpecker, but it is definitely not a woodpecker.  I wonder if it was someone's pet that got away?

 

Hmm, I had just assumed your photo was really dark and that the colors weren't completely true because of that.

 

I'd still be willing to bet that it's a barn swallow like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BarnSwallow_cajay.jpg

 

 

Maybe someone more experienced at birding can help us out.

Good to have them around, as they are voracious eaters of mosquitoes and other bug pests.

That's definitely a swallow.

Thanks all for your replies.

 

OTR, except for the bright blue feathers, it does look more like the cajay.  Thanks for that reference. 

 

bumsquare, I'm a believer, too.

 

noozer, it's nice to hear that they eat mosquitos and other pests, but I really want it to make its home elsewhere as birds have the tendency to poop too much and I do not want it on my light nor my driveway nor risk it getting into my garage when the door is open.  It leaves for the day then comes back at dusk for the 2nd day now.

 

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get it to move along e.g. spray the area with (I have no idea what)? 

 

Thanks.

Get rid of its food source (bugs).

Personally I would just not worry about the bird.  However, if you must take action you can use pepper spray or possibly any obnoxious smelling product you have around the house like WD40, wasp spray, or petroleum jelly and the like.  If you'd like you can find instructions in plenty of places online on how to make your own pepper spray.

You could order something like this or make it yourself if you have the ability.  This guys site is pretty wild, haven't seen one organized like this in about 10 years. 

 

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/per/nestord.htm

 

 

 

If you're trying to make a specific area off-limits to its nesting, you might want to install some bird spikes.

 

http://www.birdbgone.com/products/bird-spikes/stainless-bird-spikes/