Birds definitely peck fruit - they tend to de-fruit my trees when the fruitlets are pea to marble sized. That said, I haven't had it in quite some time, but I've had fruit get hit by slugs - they nibble the surface off - leaving the white pith showing. I've never had them go into the fruit, but I tend to hunt them down (manually or put out beer traps) at the first trails. Obviously, they're usually easy to spot (or at least their trails are), they're generally not one of the usual citrus suspects, but I've had a few times over the years which look somewhat like what you're experiencing.

Thank you both!

Well, I’m relieved it’s not a weird disease or pest. I never had this issue up north but only noticed since I've been in Cape May. I’ve got a lot of bad birds (sparrows and grackles). I have sparrows that nest everywhere, even in the supports of the pool. They keep multiplying and I have no idea how to diminish them.

I can’t get rid of the birds but hopefully I can help decline the slug population. I will get those beer traps you mentioned.

With the birds, do any of you use any of that shiny tape? Does netting really work?

Thanks for the help!

Ps- I’m in the most southern town in NJ, the very tip of the tail, so I’m actually in the same zone 7a as you both ;) So I assume we have similar birds.

i probably have to update my profile

Robins are evil. They are garden terrorists. Most often fruitlet pickers. Tape (and old CDs) - work for a very short period and then they learn. You'd have move and change things to keep it working. I throw netting occasionally - I have bird netting and also finer netting/shade cloth (which I used last year for cicada onslaught - they still managed to tear up some branches).

Beer traps are just a small container that you put beer in. The slugs/snails go in for a drink and are cited for DUI and sentenced to death by drowning. Cheapest (or stale old) beer works fine.

You could certainly have something other than birds or slugs as we're mostly hobby growers here- though we tend to have experience. From my interactions, the only regular commercial grower here is a lemon grower in Guatemala.

Good luck!

I have similar damaged areas on my Key Limes - looked it up and it's birds, along with thorns. We have mockingbirds and grackles here and they love to hang out on that tree.

I never would of thought of the robins! its seems like the only birds I get here are all on this bad list. I’ve got some of the tape and some mirror things with an ”evil eye” on it (like CDs), and a fake owl. The grackles and sparrows can care less. They are still collecting for new nests! It’s the end of July! ugh!

It’s just funny, only 74 miles south, the difference with the birds. And I love birds. Up north I didn't have any of these birds, just finches, yellow finches, titmice, nut thatches, cardinals, bluejays, water fowl, never a problem to my citrus. My citus love the climate here but now I got these PITA birds to deal with aka dumpster birds.

i did get the slug traps and am taking my smaller citrus off the ground so that helps a bit,

It is birds.

https://www.plantanswers.com/citrus_damaged.htm

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/portals/blogs/southerngarden/damaged-citrus-fruit