10

In one of my bathrooms on the top floor, I can loudly hear noises that sound somewhat like a bird. The sounds have been going for about a month now. What's going on? Should I be concerned?

The video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Klxp-mVuQw4jqS95TmrX_WD-_BkyFRKZ/view?usp=sharing

Improve this question
11
  • 2
    That's a pretty wild set of sounds. I'd sure want to know what's up--I hear both animal and mechanical noises, at least through my phone's tiny speaker. That said, your question is vague and opinion-based. Why not investigate and ask something specific that we can actually help resolve?
    – isherwood
    Dec 6, 2021 at 13:46
  • 14
    No. Just leave me in peace :)
    – Solar Mike
    Dec 6, 2021 at 13:59
  • 13
    @GeorgeAnderson Slightly macabre, but if the bird was caught in the ductwork then the noise would have subsided well before the 1 month mark as describe by OP. Something has likely taken residence.
    – MonkeyZeus
    Dec 6, 2021 at 17:46
  • 2
    Animal noises for a month? Something's living in your house.
    – Loren Pechtel
    Dec 7, 2021 at 1:59
  • 3
    If you have woodpeckers drumming in your attic, that would suggest there is an insect problem as well.
    – rtaft
    Dec 7, 2021 at 13:42

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
20

You should always be concerned about a new noise in your house. Examine the outside upper story soffit framing to see if any soffits are missing or broken. If so, there's a good chance something's crawled/flown up there. Get a good flashlight and check out the attic by slowly opening the access door/panel and looking around. If you find something up there, well that's another question.

Improve this answer
4
  • 3
    Yeah why wouldn't you investigate. Its been like this for a entire MONTH and you haven't thought to check it out ?
    – GamerGypps
    Dec 7, 2021 at 11:47
  • 2
    @GamerGypps Denial is a powerful instinct. People are highly prone to ignoring warning signs because it's comforting to pretend it's nothing to worry about.
    – J...
    Dec 7, 2021 at 14:20
  • 5
    @GamerGypps: People live busy lives, and sometimes it's easier to just hope whatever's causing an issue will just go away on its own.
    – V2Blast
    Dec 7, 2021 at 15:48
  • in addition to the soffits, take a good close look at the exterior walls. Woodpeckers are extremely persistent when they find a place that they want to call home.
    – Z4-tier
    Dec 7, 2021 at 15:58
4

Do woodpeckers live in your vicinity ?

That rattling sound with a few slower bangs after it really sounds like a woodpecker hammering.
The other noises are certainly birds.

That isn't necessarily inside your attic. You be surprised how sound can carry through a structure if it is being knocked on from the outside. And an attic in particular can act like a sound-box amplifying sounds in a strange way.

I would take a flash-light and get into the attic space.
Wait until it starts again (might take a while) while keeping still. You might see movement from bird activity or get a better feel from where the sounds are really come from.

Improve this answer
3
  • 1
    I was going to suggest the same thing. I've had them get into my wall before, and they can be surprisingly noisy once they get in there. Even before looking in the attic, I'd recommend going outside and very closely examining the exterior walls for any holes. In my case, the hole was around the size of a golf ball.
    – Z4-tier
    Dec 7, 2021 at 15:55
  • I'm not sure. Are there woodpeckers in central Maryland?
    – Proxy303
    Dec 9, 2021 at 17:07
  • @Proxy303 woodpeckers live in almost any woodland worldwide. Only madagaskar and Australia don’t have any woodpecker species. So there should be some in Maryland too
    – Tonny
    Dec 9, 2021 at 17:30

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.