Best Predator Decoys That Really Scare Away Pest Birds

Best for pigeons & Starlings

Rotating-Head Owl

The horned owl has a diverse diet and that makes it a great decoy to scare away birds, including pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows, ravens, and doves.

BEST FOR Songbirds & woodpeckers

Flying Hawk

This flying hawk is good at deterring small to medium-sized songbirds, as well as woodpeckers and corvids (crows, ravens, jays, etc.).

BEST to scare away crows

Realistic hanging dead crow

This is a real scareCROW. This realistic dead bird is nothing for the faint-hearted, whether it’s humans or crows. Crows are smart and don’t hang around crow killers.

Have you had enough with pigeons, sparrows, and other pest birds intruding your garden, yard, and life? Are you searching for an effective yet harmless alternative to keep those pesky birds out of your property?

Search no more! Here, you’ll find premium quality decoys to scare those creatures away. Give your enemies a greater enemy with these decoys! Now, you can have your life back. Ready? Let’s get started!

Do fake owls and other decoys really work?

Yes, predator decoys work! Decoys like fake owls and falcons scare away pest birds. However, their effectiveness depends on how you are able to utilize them.  

Many people complain that these decoys only work for a while since birds will later notice that they are fake. This is true, but there are certain methods to maximize their use and make them effective.

Below, I’m going to show you how to use your predator decoys and make the most out of them.

Tips for scaring away birds with predator decoys

The birds would figure the trick out if you just leave the decoys to sit in a spot for a long time. Not to worry! We’re going to show you where, how, and when to place decoys. You’ll also discover the best decoys to deter birds.

Here are a few tips to make your decoys effective:

  • Change the position of the decoy frequently 
  • Choose realistic decoys
  • Use multiple decoys 
  • Place them reasonably

Why should you use multiple decoys?

Using multiple decoys are very effective in scaring pest birds. As mentioned above, birds would realize that your decoys are fake if they just sit in a spot.

So a great idea would be getting several realistic decoys and switching them on a daily basis if possible. If you let just one kind of decoy sit out for long, soon they’ll uncover the trick and start coming back.

Where should you place your decoys?

Aside from using multiple decoys, using several locations for your decoys is also effective. Normally, when you place an immobile decoy in one spot day after day, the birds would easily realize that the owl or hawks can’t harm them.

You need to find different spots for your decoys, map out either different locations that you’ll be using for this purpose. If you are using several decoys, you still have to find different positions for them. The whole idea is that you do not place the decoys in the same spot every day.

When you take down decoy 1, you should get a different spot for decoy 2. This would prevent the birds from losing fear. Since the owl is in different places they won’t figure this out and they’ll remain scared.

When should you set up your decoys?

Some predators like owl are nocturnal animals, others like a hawk are diurnal. So pest birds expect to see owls flying in the night and perching by the day. If they see an owl flying by day, they’ll notice they are fake.

In addition, you’ll reduce their effectiveness if they watch you placing the decoys. It’s wiser to put out your decoys after sundown. They won’t see you at this time since most of them would be nesting.

Should you conceal your decoy?

Although this may sound wrong, it’s actually very effective! Most times predators perch in a semi-concealed location in order to make it difficult for their prey to locate them.

So they can come out of their hideout and feed on their prey. The pest birds are aware of this behavior so you don’t really want to conceal your decoys totally.

Pretend to hide the decoys in order to mimic the normal hunting and roosting behavior of most owls. You want to put them in areas like a tree limb, the base of a chimney, or under a porch.

This would make them appear like they are hiding out while letting them exposed so the pests can see them and move out.

Sometimes, you can expose your decoys. But at least, once in a while, make effort to put them in semi concealment. You also want to ensure that you place your decoys in the same position a real predator would stay.

Pick the right predator decoy for your pest bird

Following all these tips won’t help you if you don’t know your pest. Before you order predator decoys like a maniac, take a look at your pest bird. Identify it and check what natural predators that bird species has. Without knowing that, you shouldn’t buy a decoy.

We mentioned with the products for which birds they will work. However, there are so many birds so you may have to do your own research.

If you make use of all these strategies, you shouldn’t find it hard to keep birds away from your garden or yard.

What are the best predator decoys for pest birds? 

There are various types of predator decoys you can use to ward off pest birds from your property. 

The motion active decoys that can move around are very effective. When the birds fly into an area and suddenly see the decoy moving, they’ll be terrified and fly away.

Below, you’ll find the best decoys to scare away pest birds.

Owl: Best for Deterring Pigeons and Starlings

Even a gentle breeze will cause this Horned Owl’s head to bob or turn 360°. This provides a realistic and intense look that will ward off annoying pest birds. For the best effect, fill the fake owl with sand to weigh it down and place it on a flat surface. You should close the holes in the bottom to keep the sand inside.

Horned Owls like to eat a lot of different animals, including birds. Therefore, they are a great scarecrow for small to large birds (almost everything up to geese). So, an owl can deter pigeons, sparrows, starlings, crows, ravens, doves, and other pest birds.

  • Specifically hand-painted for realistic appearance
  • Rotating head gives life-like qualities to scare off birds
  • It’s durable and easy to use
  • Can be easily moved around from porches to gardens 
  • Lightweight for easy portability.
  • Holes in the bottom leak sand

Flying Hawk: Best for Songbirds and Woodpeckers

This decoy is effective for a good number of pest birds. This includes small to medium-sized songbirds (robins, bluejays, bluebird, wren, etc.), as well as woodpeckers, doves, and corvids (crows, ravens, jays, etc.).

When suspended from the string it floats like a hovering hawk. For best result, hang from a tree or pole. Also, ensure you move the decoy often. The hawk is a daytime hunter, so you should only use it during the day.

  • Durable waterproof material
  • Scares of pesky birds while hanging on a tree
  • Bright colors that gives a “real” appearance
  • Perfect body length
  • Extraordinarily realistic birds decoys
  • The wings may not survive windy weather. You can make it last longer by reinforcing the wings.

Dead Crow: Best for Scaring Crows

This dead crow decoy with large black feathers looks very realistic, even to crows. It’s perfect to scare away crows because crows don’t like to hang around places where they could die. Crows are smart like that and they care for other crows.

For optimal use, hang it on a tree and put a shiny object close by. This would send a warning signal to other pests. Remember not to leave this decoy out for a long time. Like I said, they are smart and may figure it out if you leave it out for days.

  • Incredibly realistic and super scary 
  • Works perfectly to deter crows 
  • It’s about the perfect size of an actual crow 
  • Hardly rots
  • It’s not the most aesthetic decoy you can have in your garden