Wildlife experts share the unusual colors that will deter pigeons from your yard – and how to add them subtly and tastefully

Pigeons are commonly seen as a pest because they often appear in large numbers and take over an entire space. This means any food left out for other wildlife will be hogged, nesting areas could be filled, and every time you open your back door you'll be met by a loud percussion of flapping wings.

If you're wondering how to get rid of pigeons humanely but effectively, there are lots of methods out there. But perhaps the best one is a little trick that doubles as a chance to elevate your yard: pigeons detest certain metallic and bold red shades, so adding those to your garden will send them on their way.

Here, we talked to avian experts and gardeners to learn what these colors are and how to seamlessly incorporate more of them into your yard.

Which colors deter pigeons from a yard?

There are a few colors that pigeons particularly dislike according to Isabelle Manseau, avian expert and founder of Birdzy Inc, and the reasons why make complete sense.

'Pigeons are deterred by certain colors they perceive as threatening or unsettling, such as reflective or metallic shades like silver or chrome, and intense hues like red or orange,' says Isabelle.

Metallic shades interrupt a pigeon's comfort as they create a sheen, causing light to reflect from the surface which can create confusion and concern. Similar to red and orange, white can also be rather startling to pigeons because it's bold and bright against the rest of a garden landscape and stands out more harshly in their UV spectrum vision.

By incorporating more of these shades into your yard, the space will become increasingly less appealing to gathering pigeons.

Isabelle Manseau

Isabelle is a bird-lover and the founder of Birdzy, a company which specialises in hand-made bird-feeding products.

How to tastefully incorporate these colors into your yard

Adding these colors haphazardly can create quite the eyesore in a garden, but you don't need to place giant red signs or metallic sheets in your yard for this hack to be effective.

Tastefully incorporating little touches of each color can look intentional as well as serve the purpose of deterring pigeons from the area.

'The key is to choose elements that fit the yards existing style,' says Isabelle. 'Whether its modern, cottage or minimalist. These can be incorporated in ways that elevate the space rather than detract from it.'

• Plant flowers near feeding stations: If pigeons have overtaken your garden at a detriment to other wild birds being able to feed, planting some white or red flowers near the feeding station can help to keep them away. Jessica Mercer, plant expert at Plant Addicts, says, 'For example, planting clusters of white hydrangeas or daisies near feeding stations creates a boundary of light-colored blooms that pigeons perceive as a potential threat. When choosing flowers, I recommend considering companion plants and fragrance as well as color, and considering if you want to plant your flowers in the ground, in a colored planter or by a white-washed trellis.' The FENCY metal planter box on wheels with white diamond lattice trellis from Amazon is a great choice to try out in your yard, and it's easy to move around to test out in different locations.
• Add in light colored pebbles or ornaments: If you're looking to create a subtle change, adding a few lighter colored landscaping rocks near to feeding areas can have the same effect as planting flowers minus the upkeep. 'Placing a few small, white-painted stones [make sure to use a non-toxic variety if you're painting your own, like the Apple Barrel snow white paint 2oz , and them apply a durable paint sealer such as the Krylon triple thick clear glaze aerosol spray, both from Amazon] or garden ornaments around bird feeders or near nesting areas can increase the impression of “danger” for pigeons without overwhelming the overall look of your yard,' says Jessica. Natural white stones such as the Akasha decorative white natural rocks from Walmart are also available if you're worried about paint washing away.

• Place decorative items with metallic finishes: Adding metallic elements to your yard's decor will both elevate the visual as well as scare pigeons away. Rocky Trifari, bird enthusiast and owner of The Rocky Safari, says, 'Adding decorative wind spinners or reflective sculptures can be both artistic and functional. Look for pieces that incorporate red or metallic finishes. The motion and shine act as natural deterrents. Using reflective wind chimes, CDs, or even mirrored mobiles in trees or near roof ledges where pigeons like to roost are also effective and can discourage nesting while doubling as charming garden features.' The Moocorvic reflective metal wire wind chime from Walmart is a good example of something to aim for. It's both reflective and rotates, disturbing pigeons from landing nearby in two ways simultaneously.
• Consider your garden furniture and fencing: If you love to sit outside and make the most out of your yard furniture, you may just be sitting on the solution to your pigeon problem. 'Painting garden furniture or fence posts in bold reds or whites can help deter pigeons while still keeping the aesthetic cohesive. A pop of color can really liven up the yard too, especially if you're putting in outdoor furniture for a small space.' Alternatively, if your old furniture is looking a little worse for wear and beyond repair, you could consider investing in new, white furniture. It's commonly loved in a yard for its sleek, neutral aesthetic, and comes in many shades from brilliant to more muted cream-toned varieties. The Red Barrel Studio carved-back floral garden bench from Wayfair is a great example of a white piece of garden furniture that doesn't sacrifice style.

Jessica Mercer

Jessica Mercer, PhD, is the Senior Content Marketing Coordinator for Plant Addicts. As a “plant collector”, Jessica enjoys growing many different plants and learning about the best cultural practices for each. Writing for Plant Addicts is a real joy for her, as she can use her science background to research interesting plant topics. She carefully considers how to best present the information to other gardeners, with a focus on sustainability and the environment.

Rocky Trifari

Rocky Trifari, is the bird enthusiast behind The Rocky Safari, where he has been documenting his wildlife encounters and birding adventures for over a decade.

Reese L. Robbins, creator of Just Pure Gardening, importantly pointed out to us that while placing pigeon deterrents in your yard is gong to be helpful, you need to be mindful that you don't also scare other birds away from your feeders.

'I recommend surrounding bird feeders with red or reflective materials, but not replacing the feeder itself for something reflective or of a different color,' says Reese. 'If you want to welcome smaller songbirds and other species of bird this will only scare them away.'

Reese L. Robbins

Reese is a gardener, writer, and the founder of JustPureGardening.com. Just Pure Gardening is full of fruit and vegetable growing guides, garden ideas, and garden product reviews.

Even if you get fewer pigeons to your yard, you might still have some other bold birds making a meal out of your freshly sown grass seeds. If so, here's some expert-approved ways to stop birds eating grass seed and wrecking your new lawn.