Looks like a 1st year Swainson's Thrush, poor thing

Yes, indeed, poor thing. We had taken out the screens in that window but put them back up so that if a bird hits the bottom part, they have a bit of a 'cushion.' Trouble is the screens are only at the bottom, there's plain glass up above. I do think, however, that most of hits we've had have been on the bottom.

Swainson's thrush...hmm, my bird book shows it to be brown. Size is probably right.

We're tried various decals for the windows esp. that window since it's not too far from a feeder and right now there are several dogwood trees heavy with berries. But nothing seems to work. Ideas? One thing...I saw the bird hit and it did not hit straight on but came in from the side almost as if it was seeing its shadow and attacking.

Thanks for your help. I think I saw another bird of the same type and have my outdoor camera set up to try to catch a picture of it.

Linda...

The Eastern Swainson's Thrush has an olive back, and used to be called the Olive-backed Thrush even if your book doesn't show it. My photos are shadowed in the woods, don't show the back

You could check another bird book, or google online photos

Rachel,

You are right...thanks for the photo, it definitely is the one that I found on the deck.

Thanks again, Linda...

The birds see their own reflection & charge it. We see it happening with auto windows & side mirrors down here all the time. You might be able to hang something outside from the roof, like 2 old (or blank)CDs back/back w/shiny side out to deter them. I tie them on fish line, tie on a fish line swivel, & tie more line for hanging. I do mine to keep them out of my grapes & blueberries & to keep deer out of my flower beds & garden. Birds won't light/perch on it or under it but will above it.

Birds also see the reflection of the sky, trees, bushes, etc in the windows and will fly off in that direction when threatened or when simply taking off from one place to another. Since I live in a place where I can't have feeders anymore (due to neighbor's cats and the ever-increasing cost of feeding them), I don't have trouble with window strikes. Areas around here that do have used streamers to break up the window's reflections, decals of falcons, and the like, to keep them away from the windows, with varying amounts of success.