Nesting activity peaks in spring, roughly March through August. House sparrows and European starlings in the region typically nest from around April through August, sometimes stretching into September, with the bulk of nest-building happening in spring. Sealing vents and eaves in early March, before birds start building, is the single most effective prevention step homeowners can take, since it heads off nesting rather than forcing you to evict it later.

Which birds can I legally remove and which are protected?

Only house sparrows, European starlings, and feral rock pigeons are non-native and unprotected, meaning their nests may legally be removed. Virtually all native birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and disturbing an active nest, eggs, or young without a federal permit is illegal, carrying substantial fines and up to six months imprisonment. Always positively identify the species before touching any nest.

There's a nest in my dryer vent — what do I do?

Stop using the dryer immediately — a nest in a dryer vent is a genuine fire hazard. If you can confirm it's an unprotected sparrow, starling, or pigeon nest, it may be removed and the vent covered afterward. If there's any chance it's a protected native species like a robin, wren, or house finch, don't disturb it — wait for fledging or call a professional or wildlife rehabilitator. Birds are drawn to vents for their warmth.

Where do pest birds go in winter?

They don't leave. House sparrows roost in nest cavities and vents through winter, European starlings form very large communal winter roosts and shelter in structures, and pigeons roost — and even breed — year-round on ledges and in vents. Because they overwinter locally rather than migrating, these species claim the best nest sites first when spring nesting begins, which is one reason early sealing works far better than spring-only prevention.

When should I seal vents to prevent nesting?

In early March, before nesting begins. Starlings typically scout and select nest sites in March and April, so completing exclusion work by late winter is far more effective — and far more humane — than trying to evict an active nest once eggs or young are present, when removal may not even be legal depending on the species involved and how far along the nest is.

Do pigeons nest year-round?

Yes. Rock pigeons breed continuously through the year, with peaks in spring and fall, laying just one to two eggs per clutch and often starting a new clutch before the previous young have even fledged. This continuous breeding cycle is exactly why exclusion methods like netting, spikes, or sealed vents outperform a one-time nest removal, which a persistent pigeon pair can simply rebuild within days.

A native bird built a nest over my door — can I move it?

No. Moving or destroying an active native-bird nest is illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, even if it's genuinely inconvenient. The right approach is to wait out the roughly four-to-five-week nesting cycle until the young fledge, then remove the empty nest and seal the spot so it isn't reused next season — a temporary inconvenience is far better than risking a federal fine.

Is a bird active in the daytime a health concern?

No — birds are naturally diurnal, so daytime activity around a nest or vent is completely normal, unlike the daytime-sighting warning signs associated with nocturnal mammals. The real health concern with pest birds is accumulated droppings, which can harbor histoplasmosis; use precautions or a professional when cleaning up large deposits rather than dry-sweeping them yourself, since disturbing dried droppings can release spores into the air.

When do sparrows and starlings nest?

House sparrows typically begin nest-building anywhere from February through May, with broods continuing into August or September. European starlings scout and select nest sites in March and April, then nest from roughly April through August. Both species can produce multiple broods across a single season, which is why exclusion completed before February is far more reliable than a single spring cleanup.

Daniel Brady · NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664

|Reviewed by Daniel Brady

When Do Birds Nest? NH Timing & Legal Guide

Overwintering Wildlife

Pest bird nesting in New Hampshire runs roughly March through August, peaking in April and May, with house sparrows and starlings sometimes still active into September. House sparrows, European starlings, and feral rock pigeons are non-native and not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so their nests may legally be removed. Nearly all native birds, however, are federally protected, and disturbing an active nest, eggs, or young without a permit is illegal even if the nest is inconvenient. None of the three pest species migrate — they roost in vents, eaves, and dryer vents all winter, which is why sealing those gaps in early March, before nesting begins, is the most effective prevention.

At a glance

Legal status: Only house sparrow, starling, and feral pigeon are unprotectedNative birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act — USFWS
Penalty: Substantial fines and/or up to 6 months imprisonmentMBTA violation, 16 U.S.C. §707(a) — Federal Register / USFWS
Nesting season: House sparrows and starlings nest ~April–August, into SeptBulk of nest-building happens in spring — NestWatch / The Raptor Trust
Prevention window: Seal vents and gutters in early MarchStarlings scout nest sites March–April — NestWatch

Legal status
Only house sparrow, starling, and feral pigeon are unprotected
Native birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act — USFWS
Penalty
Substantial fines and/or up to 6 months imprisonment
MBTA violation, 16 U.S.C. §707(a) — Federal Register / USFWS
Nesting season
House sparrows and starlings nest ~April–August, into Sept
Bulk of nest-building happens in spring — NestWatch / The Raptor Trust
Prevention window
Seal vents and gutters in early March
Starlings scout nest sites March–April — NestWatch

The timing answer

The short of it

The verdict · overwintering wildlife

Nesting spring–summer; roosting in vents all winter

Pest birds nest from roughly March through August and roost in NH vents, eaves, and dryer vents all winter — but only house sparrows, starlings, and feral pigeons may legally be removed; native nests are federally protected.

NH activity calendar

When are they active — the whole year at a glance

Nesting activity concentrates in spring, but the three common pest birds never fully leave New Hampshire structures — they simply shift from nesting to winter roosting.

12-month activity · New Hampshire

Peak · Apr, MayYou are here · Aug

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

PeakActiveBuildingDecliningDormantCurrent season · Summer

Best window to act · Early March, before nesting begins — seal dryer, stove, and exhaust vents, gutters, and eave gaps with hardware cloth or commercial vent covers (mesh guides: roughly ¾-inch for sparrows, 1⅛-inch for starlings, 2½-inch for pigeons). Sealing by late winter beats evicting an active nest later in the season.

What else peaks thenApr May

Peaks track spring nesting (April–May); early March is highlighted as the seal-before-nesting window, and roost-seeking climbs toward Manchester's ~Oct 19 first frost (50% probability, NOAA 1991–2020).

Season by season

A year in the life

Bird activity around New Hampshire homes follows a clear seasonal arc, but unlike migratory species, the common pest trio never truly leaves.

01
Spring
Nesting begins in earnest, with house sparrows building nests February through May and starlings scouting sites March through April. April and May bring the year's peak nesting activity — and because protected native species are nesting during this window too, no active nest should be disturbed without positive species identification.
02
Summer
Multiple broods and fledglings keep activity high through June and July, and starling flocks begin forming as juveniles gather. Late broods can push the nesting season into early September for sparrows and starlings.
03
Fall
Post-breeding flocks build in size and birds increasingly seek out warm winter roosting sites — vents, eaves, and dryer vents — as temperatures fall toward the first frost.
04
Winter
None of the three pest species migrate away. House sparrows reuse nest cavities as winter roosts, starlings form large communal winter roosts, and pigeons roost — and even breed — year-round on ledges and in vents. Because they never leave, these birds claim the best nest sites first each spring, which is the strongest argument for sealing vents in late winter.

New Hampshire context

Pest birds in southern New Hampshire

House sparrows, European starlings, and feral pigeons are common year-round residents around Manchester, Nashua, and Concord homes, nesting and roosting in vents, eaves, and gutters. Because none of the three migrate, New Hampshire's long winters simply shift their behavior from nesting to communal roosting, and they typically claim the best nest sites again as soon as spring nesting resumes — which is why an early-March sealing window matters so much.

Key local data

First hard frost in Manchester averages October 19 (50% probability), the point at which roost-seeking toward warm structures accelerates — NOAA 1991–2020.

We serve these communities

ManchesterNashuaConcordDerryBedfordSalemHudsonAmherst

Merrimack, Rockingham, and Hillsborough Counties

NH-licensed applicator · #782664
Same-day service
Family-owned since 2017

Service Area Map

Southern New Hampshire

When to act

Timing your treatment

The single most effective bird-prevention move in New Hampshire is sealing entry points before nesting begins — evicting an active nest later is both harder and, for protected species, illegal.

The right window

Early March, before nesting begins — seal dryer, stove, and exhaust vents, gutters, and eave gaps with hardware cloth or commercial vent covers (mesh guides: roughly ¾-inch for sparrows, 1⅛-inch for starlings, 2½-inch for pigeons). Sealing by late winter beats evicting an active nest later in the season.

A nest inside a dryer vent — an immediate fire hazard; stop using the dryer right away

A large pigeon or starling roost fouling the structure

Droppings that need histoplasmosis-safe cleanup

Uncertainty over whether a nesting bird is a protected native species

Begging nestlings plus a fan-shaped dropping smear under a vent — signs of an active nest

Bird Control & Exclusion

Free inspection and same-day bird control & exclusion service across southern New Hampshire. NH-licensed #782664. Legal species identification always comes first — an active native-bird nest is never removed.

Get a Free Inspection (603) 785-0118

Learn more about this pest

Common Questions

Frequently asked

Sources & references

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Bird Nests and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
protected status, non-native species exceptions, permit requirements
Federal Register — Species to Which the MBTA Does Not Apply (2020-06782)
house sparrow, starling, and pigeon exemption; §707(a) penalty
NestWatch (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) — Managing House Sparrows and European Starlings
nesting season timing, prevention window
The Raptor Trust — House Sparrow and Starling Nest Sites
temporary nest-site behavior, winter roosting
NH Fish & Game — Nuisance Wildlife
protected-species identification, consultation for unknown natives
Connecticut DEEP — Rock Pigeon Fact Sheet
year-round breeding, 1–2 eggs per clutch
Garden.org — Frost Dates, Manchester NH (NOAA 1991–2020)
Manchester first hard frost ~Oct 19

Editorial disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute pest control advice. Every property is unique — consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation. Anchor Pest Services is licensed in New Hampshire (#782664).

Written & reviewed by

Verified

Daniel Brady

NH-Licensed Pesticide Applicator · License #782664 (NHDAMF, RSA 430)

Daniel Brady is the New Hampshire–licensed applicator behind Anchor Pest Services, a family-owned pest control company serving the Manchester area since 2017.

Verify license

Last updated Jul 2026

Anchor Pest Services

Whatever the season — we handle the timing for you.

Same-day service across Southern New Hampshire. NH-licensed #782664, family-owned since 2017. We track the local calendar so you don't have to guess the right window.

Get a Free Inspection (603) 785-0118

NH-licensed applicator
Same-day service
Pet & family-conscious

NH License #782664 · No obligation · We answer in person

Keep Exploring

When Do Birds Nest? NH Timing & Legal Guide

The short of it

When are they active — the whole year at a glance

A year in the life

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Pest birds in southern New Hampshire

Timing your treatment

Frequently asked

Sources & references

Whatever the season — we handle the timing for you.

Your next step

Where Do Squirrels Go in the Winter? NH Timing Guide

When Are Raccoons Active? Winter, Night & NH Timing

House Sparrow in New Hampshire — ID, Signs & Control

European Starling in New Hampshire — ID, Signs & Control

Do birds nesting in vents cause problems?

Pigeons in New Hampshire — ID, Droppings & How to Deter Them

When Do Birds Nest? NH Timing & Legal Guide

The short of it

When are they active — the whole year at a glance

A year in the life

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Pest birds in southern New Hampshire

Timing your treatment

Frequently asked