This invention pertains to UV-absorbing coatings that may optionally be covered with an anti-reflective layer and that are applied to exterior-facing surfaces such as a window or other glass surface that are transparent or translucent. Such coatings are visible to various species of birds, but are generally transparent to humans. The UV absorbing coatings have a silane- or silane-derived chromophore or a combination of a silane- or siloxane-based material and a chromophore, which chromophores absorb UV light at about 300 to about 400 nm. More particularly, the silane- or siloxane-based chromophore is 2-hydroxy-4-(3-triethoxysilylpropoxy)diphenylketone or a derivative thereof.