The acute oral toxicity of 4‐aminopyridine and the repellency of methiocarb, trimethacarb and copper oxychloride were determined on: rock doves,Columba livia;rose‐ringed parakeets,Psittacula krameri;house sparrows,Passer domesticus;and white‐backed munias,Lonchura striata, common pest birds to crops in Bangladesh. Methiocarb was the most repellent, and copper oxychloride was the least repellent, of the compounds. The chemical 4‐aminopyridine was extremely toxic to all species, with doves being the most susceptible (LD50= 2.5 mg/kg) and the house sparrow being the least susceptible (LD50= 4.2 mg/kg). The toxicity (LD50) of methiocarb ranged from 3.5 mg/kg for munias to 14.1 mg/kg for sparrows. These data will permit a safer, more effective use of these chemicals to protect food crops from birds in Bangladesh.