Why Are Pigeons Nesting in My Roof Eaves?

If pigeons keep disappearing into a gap near the edge of your roof, they may be nesting inside an eave or roof overlap.

In that situation, bird spikes or simply removing the nest usually will not solve the main problem. The opening itself needs to be closed so the pigeons cannot keep getting back inside.

Why Do Pigeons Use Roof Eaves?

Pigeons look for protected areas where they can build nests with less disturbance.

An opening underneath an eave or between overlapping roof sections can give them exactly that.

Once inside, nests and debris may be difficult to see from the ground. You may only notice pigeons repeatedly entering the same part of the roof.

How Can You Tell if Pigeons Are Nesting in an Eave?

Common signs include:

• Pigeons repeatedly entering the same roof opening

• Birds sitting near the opening throughout the day

• Nesting material visible near the gap

• Droppings accumulating below the area

• Feathers or debris falling from the roof

The important distinction is whether pigeons are simply sitting on the roof or actually disappearing into an opening.

If they are entering the structure, the opening is the problem.

Will Bird Spikes Keep Them Out?

Usually not if pigeons are already entering an enclosed space.

Bird spikes are mainly designed for exposed landing and roosting surfaces.

They do not physically close a large opening in an eave.

For an accessible gap, we generally prefer physical exclusion.

How Do You Keep Pigeons Out of an Eave?

The goal is to close the opening while fitting the barrier to the shape of the roof.

Cheetah provides eave mesh exclusion for situations where pigeons are entering roof eaves, overlaps, or similar protected spaces.

Depending on the project, accessible nesting material and debris may also need to be removed before the opening is closed.

What if You Also Have Pigeons Under the Solar Panels?

Treat them as two separate access points.

Closing the solar panels does not automatically close an opening in the eaves, and closing an eave does not prevent pigeons from getting underneath an open solar array.

If both areas are being used, each may need its own solution.

For pigeons underneath the array, solar panel pigeon proofing normally involves installing bird mesh around the exposed perimeter.

For pigeons entering the structure, the eave opening itself needs to be addressed.

Should You Remove the Nest and Leave the Opening Open?

That can leave you with the same problem again.

Removing nesting material cleans out what is currently there, but it does not prevent pigeons from entering the same opening afterward.

Physical exclusion addresses the access point instead of repeatedly dealing with what gets built inside it.

The Bottom Line

If pigeons are disappearing into your roof rather than simply sitting on top of it, look for an accessible eave or roof overlap.

The long term solution is usually to close the opening, not just remove the nest or try to scare the pigeons away.

If you are seeing this problem around your home, Cheetah provides pigeon control for homeowners in Buckeye, including eave exclusion and solar panel pigeon proofing.