If you hear noises, you likely have pigeons under solar panels nesting on your roof. Solar panels are silent. They have no moving parts. The inverter might make a faint hum, but the panels themselves should make zero noise.
So, why are you hearing scratching, scuttling, and cooing coming from your ceiling?
If you have solar panels, and you are hearing noises from the roof—specifically during the day—you almost certainly have a pigeon infestation. Understanding what these noises mean is crucial to catching the problem before it causes expensive electrical damage.
Diagnosing the Noise: Possums vs. Pigeons
Many Australian homeowners confuse pigeons with possums. Here is how to tell the difference based on the noise profile:
Possums: You hear heavy thuds. They are nocturnal, so the noise happens at sunset (as they leave) and just before dawn (as they return). They sound like someone walking in the roof cavity.
Pigeons: You hear scratching, rapid footsteps (claws on metal), and soft cooing. Crucially, pigeons are active during the day. If you hear the noise at sunrise, mid-morning, or mid-afternoon, it is not a possum. It is birds moving under your solar array.
Why They Are Under Your Panels
The gap between your solar panels and the roof is usually about 10 to 15 centimeters. To a pigeon, this is prime real estate.
Solar panels generate heat. The gap creates a warm, sheltered tunnel that protects birds from wind, rain, and predators (like hawks or cats). It is the perfect incubator for eggs.
The scratching noise you hear is the birds moving back and forth across the roof tiles or metal sheeting as they build their nests.
The Risk: It’s Not Just Noise
The noise is annoying, often waking people up at 5:00 AM. But the noise is actually the least of your worries. If you can hear them scratching, they are close to your wiring.
Fire Hazard: Pigeons build nests using dry twigs, leaves, and debris. They pack this material tightly under the panels to create a bed. This highly flammable material is now sitting directly against electrical cables that can get very hot.
Chewed Wires: Pigeons are known to peck at and damage the insulation on PV cables. Exposed copper wires can arc, causing system faults or roof fires.
Corrosion: As mentioned in our previous articles, the accumulation of acidic waste under the panels can corrode the aluminum frames and mounting clips.
Silence the Roof
You cannot ignore the noise. It will not go away on its own; pigeons are territorial and will return to the same spot to breed generation after generation.
The only way to stop the noise—and protect your home from fire risk—is to evict the birds and seal the entry points. Once the mesh barrier is up, the “hotel” is closed. The birds move on, and your house becomes quiet again.
Stop the noise and protect your wiring. Click here for our ‘Solar Panel Bird Proofing Guide’