Peacock attacking reflection?

[Harry Frogfish]

Has anyone here had to deal with peacocks attacking their own reflection? The two in question are not mine, but belong to the property I live on. I like having them around, they are characters. However, this spring one of the males in particular has started fixating on the chrome bumpers of my Toyota Tundra (and an old bus parked behind us) doing the Taxi Driver/Robert DeNiro "Are you looking at me?" thing before flying at/ attacking the (parked) vehicle. It would be funny, but they are tearing their spurs bloody and I'm scared they will break a leg or wing attacking several tons of steel.

We've tried catching them to pen them, but they are too fast, LOL. I'm covering the bumpers with tarps right now, but do any of you have suggestions of how to dissuade them from coming around or break them of it?

It's so silly. Even my chickens seem to know a reflection isn't a real bird.

 

[neo71665]

Pretty natural reaction that most animals have. They don't know what a mirror is and only see another animal that might be a threat. They then strike a fighting pose and what cha know that other animal stirkes one in return. I've even seen heavily domesticated animals like dogs attack mirrors.

 

[Midnightman14]

Nothing you can do to really stop them short of catching them. The best way to catch them is to lure them into the garage with food placed out then shut the door on them.

 

[KsKingBee]

It is a territorial thing, the cock is claiming the area that the reflections are and he is trying to run that other bird off. As long as he isn't damaging your vehicle then don't be too concerned about it, he will stop if it hurts and if not he will just keep doing it until after the mating season is over. I once had a cardinal attack the rearview mirror on my Durango to the point he marred the glass and left blood on it, and a bluebird attacked my bedroom window every morning in the spring. Lots of birds are territorial.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Thanks everyone who responded. I'll try luring him back to their winter pen, but we'll see how that goes. For now, I'm just putting plastic sheeting on the bumper, it's not too unsightly for now, but it messes up the reflection so they don't attack.

I just love these guys and don't want them to hurt themselves attacking a tour bus...

 

[mikfeathered]

Has anyone here had to deal with peacocks attacking their own reflection? The two in question are not mine, but belong to the property I live on. I like having them around, they are characters. However, this spring one of the males in particular has started fixating on the chrome bumpers of my Toyota Tundra (and an old bus parked behind us) doing the Taxi Driver/Robert DeNiro "Are you looking at me?" thing before flying at/ attacking the (parked) vehicle. It would be funny, but they are tearing their spurs bloody and I'm scared they will break a leg or wing attacking several tons of steel.

We've tried catching them to pen them, but they are too fast, LOL. I'm covering the bumpers with tarps right now, but do any of you have suggestions of how to dissuade them from coming around or break them of it?

It's so silly. Even my chickens seem to know a reflection isn't a real bird.

turkeys do it guineas do it and occasionally chickens to had a big (dresser) mirror leaning on shed with in the the fowl run my boy actually broke the mirror fighting with himself so count yourself lucky it's a bumper. maybe just a little mud don't shine the chrome during breeding season

 

[neo71665]

Just had to make covers for the mirrors on my nova. Stinking cardinal was about to beat himself silly and scratch my car up attacking the mirrors. Been watching and figured gonna have to do the same for my 62 GMC.

 

[KsKingBee]

Just had to make covers for the mirrors on my nova. Stinking cardinal was about to beat himself silly and scratch my car up attacking the mirrors. Been watching and figured gonna have to do the same for my 62 GMC.

We had to use plastic bags over the mirrors because of cardinals, then the bluebird was knocking himself out on the upstairs bedroom window.