That rhythmic tapping against the siding and eaves is happening again. Is it a woodpecker? Before you go buying woodpecker deterrents or setting up suet feeders to lure them to another part of the neighborhood, you should figure out what is really making the noise. You could be surprised by the answer.
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Check PriceReasons That Tapping Sound May Not be from a Woodpecker
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When you hear pecking sounds on your house, it’s easy to blame woodpeckers, but they’re not the only source of hammering sounds. True woodpecker drumming has a certain pattern to it. They peck in rapid bursts that echo very loudly and often do this in the early morning during breeding season. Woodpeckers are also very territorial, so the drumming tends to be focused on one spot and can be heard repeatedly over a number of days.
If your tapping is different than this, then you probably have something else. Some random and inconsistent taps at odd times throughout the day and night point to completely different things. Pests that move in your walls make inconsistent scratching and tapping sounds. Plumbing systems make metallic ping sounds when the water pressure shifts. Even your house itself creates noises when the building materials expand and contract due to temperature changes.
It's also important to consider the timing of woodpecker activity. Woodpeckers are active during the day and rest during the night like most birds. If you hear pecking after dark, then that most likely is not a bird. If you hear sounds during the night that could be rodents or insects, or even something mechanical. Try to consider weather patterns. Tapping sounds can be a sign that your house is responding to the changes in the weather instead of wildlife activity. This is especially true if the tapping happens when the temperature changes or during windy spells.
Critters and Pests Imitating Taps From Birds
Carpenter ants are one of the most common types of imposters. They create tunnels inside wood, and the process produces quiet, yet xonsistent noises that become more pronounced at night during the quiet hours of your house. Carpenter ants are noisy compared to termites, who work and damage wood structures completely silently. Along with the tapping sounds that come from carpenter ants, you may hear some rustling sounds, and may see small piles of dust near the bottom of walls and frames of windows.
Different species of termites are known to behave differently when disturbed but can produce similar sounds. For example, soldier termites bang their heads against the walls of the tunnel to signal the rest of the colony. These banging noises might not be apparent during the day, but are most likely to be noticeable when the sounds of other activities quiet down during the night. Carpenter ants and termites share the preference of wood that has been damaged by water. If your house has experienced water damage or you live in a place with a high level of humidity, these insects are highly likely to be in your house.
There are more complex soundscapes created by squirrels and rodents. Mice creating sounds as they move within walls are caused by light, rapid tapping because their little claws are hitting the wooden studs. Squirrels are much larger and heavier and make more noise while nesting in the attic or soffits. Their sounds are a combination of scratching and intermittent thumping. Squirrels are active around dawn and dusk. If you notice the mysterious sounds around that time, then you are most likely sheltering furry guests.
Bats are another potential option. Their noise is more like squeaking and fluttering, and when they roost in tight spots like behind shutters or under eaves, their movements may create a tapping sound. What is different about this one? Bat activity is more present during twilight and you will likely hear them flying in and out of their roost instead of hearing them during the day.
Household Sounds That Are Just Like Pecking
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Your plumbing system is extremely loud. Water hammer occurs when you quickly turn off your faucet and hear a bang. Pressure waves are created when rushing water is suddenly stopped. Then shock waves are created and reverberate through the pipes. This causes loud taps and bangs that sound like someone is knocking on the walls. This usually happens because of high water pressure, or when mounting brackets are not used to secure pipes.
Your issue is being compounded by loose piping. The pipes can move and hit the wall studs or floor joists when water flows through loose or unanchored sections. The noise can occur while a toilet is being flushed, a dishwasher is running, or a shower is being taken. If your tapping coincides with plumbing use, that's the answer.
If your home contains metal components, you should think seriously about thermal expansion. During the daytime and nighttime building materials shift due to temperature differences. When it is warm, materials will expand. When it is cool they will contract. Metal ductwork especially during this thermal expansion process. When sheet metals are flexing you will hear pops, creaks, and taps. These sounds during the middle of the day and the middle of the night will occur most frequently.
Like other materials, wood also accommodates changes in temperature and humidity. When building materials contract and expand because of changes in temperature and humidity, wooden studs, joists and rafters shift. When wood is nailed to a frame, the wood can shift around the nails, which can result in tapping or popping noises. Even though this is completely normal, and does not cause any harm, it can be startling if you do not expect it.
The wind poses yet another risk. When loose siding or trim boards or pieces of fascia get loose, they may start to hit against the structural elements of the house. Gutters that hang down, downspouts, or exterior light fixtures can also hit and create a rhythmic tapping noise. Be sure to check your house on a windy day to see if any parts are hitting the house.
How to Protect Your Home and Backyard Birds
To find the root cause, start with a detailed inspection. Take a stroll through your property at various times throughout the day while paying close attention to the sounds around you to see if you can identify the sounds. Look for signs of a pest problem, such as droppings, piles of dust, or marks from chewing. When the water is running, listen to the pipes and check the plumbing fixtures. Look for exterior parts that might shake and rattle in the wind.
If you find pests, deal with them right away, but do so in a humane way. For rodents, entry points can be sealed with steel wool and caulk because mice can fit through holes the size of a dime. If you have to, use a live trap, and then release the trapped animal far away from areas where people live. If you have pests like carpenter ants or termites, you should go to a pest control expert because of the specialized treatment these pests need in order to prevent damage to the structure of the building.
Water hammer arrestors are small shock absorber type devices that help soften the impact of pressure waves. You can use foam padding and mounting brackets to secure your pipes. If you are still uncomfortable DIYing this, it is possible to solve these issues by contacting a licensed plumber.
Let’s look at woodpeckers. If you hear woodpeckers tapping on your house, the woodpeckers are likely looking for bugs under the siding, or they are tapping on your house for territorial reasons. The goal should not be to get rid of the woodpeckers, but instead provide better alternatives. Woodpeckers love suet, so place a suet feeder away from your house to help them find food. You can also add a dead snag or post to your yard, so they can tap on the post and not damage your house.
Help the woodpeckers by planting native trees and shrubs. Insects that woodpeckers eat (like beetle larvae) are found in oaks, pines, willows, and shrubs. Woodpeckers also like a variety of habitats and vegetation heights. This will support many other bird species that you might like to watch.
You can think about visual deterrents if woodpeckers keep on trying to get in on your house. Some of these include reflective tape, pinwheels, or nets that can be placed on problem areas. These injured woodpeckers. Make sure to move these deterrents every so often so the birds don't get used to them.
Your home could have tiny carpenter ants eating away at the wood, metal ducts expanding, or a real downy woodpecker. The sounds are telling you something, you just have to figure out the source. Identifying the source will ensure you can respond properly to keep your home safe and give the birds what they need from your yard.
Happy birding—and happy investigating!
