Reviewed by William "Willy" Vizcarrondo, NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator (C1825832). Updated September 23, 2026.
Nesting birds become a pest on Long Island when they build in dryer vents, bathroom exhaust vents, soffits, gutters, and attic gaps. The three that cause most of the trouble, house sparrows, European starlings, and pigeons, are non-native species and can be removed; native birds' active nests are federally protected and have to wait.
| Size | House sparrow about 6 inches; European starling about 8 inches; pigeon about 12 inches |
|---|---|
| Color | Sparrow brown and gray, males with a black bib; starling glossy black with speckles, yellow bill in spring; pigeon gray with iridescent neck |
| Look-alikes | Native birds that also use cavities: chickadees, wrens, bluebirds, and woodpeckers (protected) |
| Where you'll find it | Dryer and bathroom exhaust vents, soffit gaps, gutters and downspouts, attic vents, under solar panels, on ledges |
| Active on Long Island | Nesting March through August; starlings and sparrows may raise several broods |
| Danger level | Fire risk from blocked dryer vents, mites and droppings, water damage from clogged gutters |
Nest building starts in March on Long Island, and sparrows and starlings can raise two or three broods in the same vent by August if it isn't cleared and sealed.
Starlings are the most common vent nester: glossy black, speckled, with a sharp yellow bill in spring, and they force their way past flimsy vent flaps. House sparrows are small and brown, the male with a black throat, and they pack soffit gaps and dryer vents with grass and trash.
Pigeons nest on flat ledges, under solar panels, and in open eaves. If the bird is a chickadee, wren, bluebird, or woodpecker, it's a native species and the active nest is protected.
A nest in a dryer vent is a fire hazard, because lint backs up behind the nest and heats. Nests in bathroom vents block airflow and trap moisture. Birds and their nests carry mites that move into the house when the birds leave, and starling and pigeon droppings damage surfaces and carry disease.
The legal side matters too: under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, native migratory birds are protected and can't be taken without authorization; the act does not cover non-native species like house sparrows, European starlings, and pigeons (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
Sometimes, if it's a starling or sparrow nest in a dryer vent and the birds have fledged. Clear the nest, clean the duct, and replace the vent hood with a bird-proof cover that has a spring flap or a guard.
The mistakes are pulling an active nest of a protected native bird, sealing a vent with birds or eggs still inside, and using cheap plastic mesh a starling can push through. If you're not sure which bird it is, or the nest is in a soffit or wall you can't see into, that's a call.
We identify the bird, remove the nest when it's legal to do so, clean and treat the vent or cavity for mites, and install bird-proof vent covers and seal the gaps so it doesn't happen next spring. Bird nest removal carries a 6-month written guarantee.
More on bird nest removal on Long Island.
If it's a house sparrow, starling, or pigeon, yes; they're non-native and not protected. If it's a native bird with eggs or young in the nest, no, it's protected under federal law and you wait until they fledge, then seal the vent.
Chirping from the vent in the morning, nest material poking out of the hood, and a dryer that suddenly takes much longer to dry clothes. Check the outside hood.
Because the vent hood doesn't close properly and the cavity is a perfect protected nest site. Clearing the nest without installing a bird-proof cover invites the next brood.
A nest in a dryer vent is a fire risk, and any nest can bring bird mites into the house once the birds leave. Droppings buildup from starlings and pigeons is also a health issue.
Think you have nesting birds? Call (516) 509-6001 for a free written quote.