Some birds are attracted to shiny objects, such as bells, coins, jewels.
This article discusses the topic of some birds being attracted to shiny objects and how this can be beneficial or harmful depending on the circumstances.
Birds that have an attraction to things like jewelry and other objects with reflective surfaces have done so because they are often found near food sources.
This disorder can cause irritation to the bird’s eyes causing them to become very attracted to shiny objects.
Many people may not know that there are certain types of birds that have a higher level of uveitis.
Table of Contents1 Blue Jay2 American Crow3 Eurasian Magpie4 Mynah5 Western Jackdaw6 Burrowing Owl7 Satin Bowerbird
Photo by Karen F of Pexels
The Blue Jay is a bird native to eastern North America.
The Blue Jays are known for being attracted to shiny things.
These birds are easily attracted to reflective objects such as small pieces of tinfoil or coin keys.
They have been seen pecking at aluminum cans and even discarded car trim, not realizing that these items were not food.
While the blue jay may seem like a nuisance to some people, it’s actually just trying to find something edible.
Photo by Janik on Unsplash
The American crow is a large black bird found in North America.
The crow lives mostly on land, but will also spend time near water sources such as rivers or lakes.
This bird has a very distinct voice and are the most common corvids in North America.
These birds have also been known to live up to 8 years!
Crows love shiny things like keys, coins, anything metal; that’s why you’ll often find them rummaging through your trash or stealing your food.
It’s not uncommon to see a crow fly down and grab something reflective off the ground, even the foil from a rubber wrap can get their attention.
Photo by plonk66 from Pixabay
Magpies are a black and white bird that can be found all over the world.
They are primarily known for their penchant for stealing shiny items, but this reputation isn’t entirely deserved.
It’s true that they sometimes bring shiny things into their nest, but it’s not because they want to steal them; instead, these birds get spooked when people approach and fly away with whatever object was on the ground at the time, so they can pick it up and inspect it further.
Photo by smarto from Pixabay
They can be found throughout Australia and Asia, but are not native to the continent, having been introduced there from Africa and southern Europe about 200 years ago.
These birds are very curious and are easily attracted to reflective objects.
For best results, hang reflective objects like bells or mirrors from branches and leave some around.
Image by Henri Ollikainen from Pixabay
The western jackdaw is an omnivorous bird that can be found throughout Europe, western Asia and North Africa.
They are also known to mimic other birds such as crows or magpies.
Jackdaws are a type of raven that has been seen as a thief for centuries.
It’s not just what they steal that makes them outcasts, it’s also how they do it: they pounce on their target with speed and accuracy, then fly off into the distance with whatever shiny object has caught their eye. Jackdaws are intelligent birds with strong social skills, and this intelligence may be why they seek out things that stand out.
Image by Kevinsphotos from Pixabay
The Burrowing Owl is a species of owl native to the Americas.
Owls have special feathers on their faces called “whiskers” that help them detect objects.
They’re often overlooked when people think of birds, but they’re actually quite fascinating.
They are usually seen picking up small shiny objects from the ground to use in their nests.
They are found throughout North America and can be identified by their large heads and large yellow eyes with brown streaks running around them.
Burrowing owls love to collect shiny things for their nests like bottle caps, pieces of glass, jewelry, or anything else that catches light easily.
Photo by Holger Detje from Pixabay
They build structures made of sticks, called pergolas, and decorate it with shiny objects, such as chewing paper, plastic straws, pens and so on.
This type of bird has a unique talent for turning trash into treasure.
Males have been known to spend weeks building their arbors and decorating them with colorful objects they find in the forest floor or in human settlements.
This unique talent has attracted the attention of scientists for years.
It turns out that these birds have a genetic mutation that makes them more interested in shiny things than other birds!
Males see these objects as opportunities to be used in mating rituals or other behaviors that stem from an instinctive need for sheen.