Bird Droppings

Quick answer: Bird droppings are the acidic, often sticky mess birds leave on your car. If they are not removed quickly, they can stain or even etch into paint and soft tops, leaving permanent marks.

While droppings can be highly corrosive and cause damage to paintwork, fabric hoods tend to be more resistant to damage. They are excellent fertilizer and provide all the nitrates and trace elements for fast growth of moss, algae and lichen.

If you park your convertible under a tree, the same can be said for any organic debris which falls on your car. Keep our soft top well maintained, cleaned and weatherproofed.

What it means

Bird droppings are the white, grey or multicoloured splats birds leave on cars. They are a mixture of uric acid, digested food and other waste, which dries onto the surface. On paintwork they often form a crust with a darker centre. On fabric and mohair roofs they soak into the fibres and can leave pale or dark stains even after cleaning.

Why it matters

Can permanently mark paint: The acids and dyes in bird mess, combined with heat from the sun, can soften and distort clear coat. Even after the deposit is removed, an etch mark or dull patch may remain.
Stains soft tops and trims: On fabric roofs and textured plastics, bird droppings can leave light or dark patches that are difficult to fully remove without risking damage to the material.
Time-sensitive problem: The longer droppings are left, especially in warm sun, the deeper they bite. Marks that might have wiped away on day one can become permanent etching if ignored.
Can require machine polishing or repair: Light etching may polish out, but deeper damage to clear coat or dyed fabrics can reach the point where only local repainting, recolouring or replacement will hide it.

Where you’ll see it

You will see bird droppings on bonnets, roofs, mirrors and any flat or horizontal surfaces where birds perch above. On convertibles they are common on the soft top and rear deck area. Inspection and detailing reports may mention bird droppings on bonnet, bird etching in lacquer or bird stains on soft top, sometimes with notes on whether they are likely to polish out or not.

Context

Bird droppings are one of several everyday contaminants – along with tree sap, tar and fallout – that can damage paint and roof materials if left. Modern clear coats are relatively thin, so there is only so much that can be polished away before you risk thinning the lacquer too far. Protective coatings, waxes and sealants can help slow down etching and make clean-up easier, but they are not invincible if droppings are baked on for weeks. On fabric roofs, careful cleaning and rinsing as soon as possible offers the best chance of minimising staining.

Also called: Bird mess, bird lime, bird poo on car, bird droppings on paint, bird droppings on soft top

Opposite of: Clean, uncontaminated paintwork and roofs with no visible droppings, stains or etch marks

Belongs to: Car paintwork care, convertible and cabriolet roof care, contamination and stain removal, inspection and appraisal

Measured by: How long the droppings have been on the surface, whether they have etched or only stained, and whether the marks can be safely removed by cleaning and polishing or need repair

Units: No fixed units – typically described as light, moderate or severe bird etching or staining, with notes on affected panels or roof areas

Related: Stains, etching, paint defects, soft top, fabric roof, roof green, washing and decontamination, machine polishing, paint correction, protective coatings and sealants

Common mistakes

Leaving bird droppings on the car for days or weeks, especially in hot sun, then being surprised when a permanent mark remains.
Picking or scraping at hardened deposits with fingernails or tools, scratching the paint or damaging roof fabric.
Trying to remove severe etching with repeated heavy polishing on the same spot, thinning the clear coat to a risky level.
Assuming a ceramic coating makes the car immune – coatings buy time and make clean-up easier, but even coated cars should have bird mess removed as soon as practical.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 04/12/2025 02:59