I Found a Baby Songbird… Now what?

Baby birds go through many stages of growth and development before they become independent and no longer require the care of their parents.  Let’s take a look at some of the critical stages of development for baby songbirds and review their needs for parental care, what’s normal behavior, etc.

Sometimes baby songbirds are genuinely in need of human assistance.  Below are guidelines to help you determine if a baby songbird needs your help. 

Hatchling

Hatchling songbirds are naked, featherless, and helpless; their eyes are closed during the first few days of life.  These birds are 0-3 days old and will be in the nest, not on the ground.  Typically, the female parent will brood the babies to keep them warm because at this age, baby birds are not able to thermoregulate (maintain their body heat).  Parents deliver food to their babies at regular intervals throughout the day, approximately every 15 minutes from sunrise to sunset.  At this stage they will quickly die of hypothermia and starvation without parental care. 

Nestling

Nestling songbirds are still nest-bound and very dependent on their parents for care.  Their eyes are open and they are vocal.  Older nestlings are preening (grooming) themselves and beginning to exercise their wings. In general, young nestling songbirds have pin feathers (feathers which are just developing and still covered in a keratin sheath) and older nestlings have mostly feathered bodies, but are still growing in their tail and wing feathers. 

The length of the nestling stage varies from species to species, but is usually 9-12 days.  Swallows and swifts are an exception as they remain in the nest until they are approximately 20 days of age.  Nature’s plan for baby songbirds is for them to grow quickly so they can leave their nest quickly.  As prey species, the longer they’re in the nest, the more vulnerable they are to predators.    

Fledgling

This is the stage of development that we receive the most calls about during the baby bird season at The Songbird Hospital.  It is important to know that most songbirds leave the nest BEFORE they’re able to fly.  In much the same way human toddlers crawl before they can run, songbirds hop and walk around a few days before they’re able to fly.  The only exceptions to this are SWALLOWS and SWIFTS – these birds are flight capable when they are ready to leave the nest on their own. 

The majority of fledgling songbirds are well feathered on their body with short wing and tail feathers; they’re able to stand, walk and hop; they may be able to make short flights from branch to branch or from the ground up to low branches; and they are vocal and still dependent on their parents for care.  During this stage they are commonly observed on the ground, out in the open, on branches and in bushes. 

Although the parents may not be with their fledgling every second of the day, they remain in vocal contact at all times.  Additionally, the location where you observe the baby is the parent’s territory, so they are always nearby.  It will take a few days to a full week before young songbirds can fly well enough to attempt to keep up with their parents and evade danger.  They are vulnerable and naïve at this age.  If you have outdoor cats, the kindest thing you can do for the birds is keep your cats indoors. 

If you think a nest of baby songbirds or a fledgling songbird has been abandoned, please follow these steps first, before you attempt a rescue:

·         Watch the nest or the youngster for at least one hour, non-stop.  Parent birds are fast and discreet when feeding their young.  You could miss the parents delivering a meal by taking your eyes off the baby or the nest for even a few seconds.

·         Observe at a safe distance away from the nest or the baby, at least 50 feet.  If you can view the birds from a place indoors, this is even better.  Parent birds will be wary to approach their baby if they know a predator (human, or otherwise) is in the vicinity. 

·         Keep pets inside while you’re observing.  If you have a child observing with you, make sure they understand it is important to remain very quiet and still.

·         If you observe the parent birds delivering food and tending to their young, all is well.

·         If you are certain the baby/babies are abandoned, then call one of our local wildlife rehabilitation centers for further instructions.

If you find a hatchling/nestling on the ground:

·         Carefully and loosely wrap it in a soft cloth and place it in a small box or paper bag with a few holes for ventilation

·         Keep the baby warm, dark and quiet

·         Placing the container with the baby in it on a heating pad set on LOW will help keep the baby warm.

·         Do not offer it any food, medicine or water

·         Call The Kenwood Wildlife Center immediately for further advice, even if you know where the nest is. 

Nest destroyed/blown down/cut down:

Please call The Kenwood Wildlife Center before attempting to re-nest baby birds.  Re-nesting songbirds does not simply involve preparing an artificial nest and attaching it to a tree branch, or relocating the original nest.  Songbirds are very selective about the structure and placement of their nest.  Even under the best of circumstances, a nest of baby songbirds is extremely vulnerable to predation by jays, crows, hawks, squirrels, raccoons, snakes, rats, and cats; as well as exposure to the elements and human disturbance.

Accidental kidnapping of a healthy baby bird:

Are you a kidnapper?  After reviewing the information above and deciding that the baby bird you found is healthy and doing what is normal for its age, then please put the baby back where you found it – in the nest if it is a warm healthy nestling or back on the ground (on the branch, in the bushes, etc) if it is a healthy fledgling.   Most songbirds have a poor sense of smell, therefore it is a myth that songbird parents will reject their baby if a human has touched it.  More than anything, parent birds want their baby back so that they can continue raising it, with the goal of perpetuating the existence of their species.

If you found a healthy fledgling in a dangerous area, like the middle of a road or sidewalk, then place it in or under a bush or on the lowest branch of a tree that is closest to where you found it.  Make sure predators, such as cats, have been cleared from the area.  Observe from a safe distance to be sure the parents have returned to care for their baby.

Obvious signs of a baby songbird in need of rescue:

·         An injury such as blood anywhere on the body; a leg or wing is not symmetrical with other side;  bird is unable to use a wing or leg; leg or wing is dragging or part of it is missing or out of normal position.

·         Had contact, or suspected contact, with a cat or dog – even if you can’t find any injuries, you need to bring the bird to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for care.  The tiniest puncture wound, especially from a cat, quickly introduces lethal bacteria into a bird’s body.

·         It is a featherless, helpless hatchling.

·         Appears lethargic, weak, unresponsive, cannot lift head, or is cold.

·         Has a strange odor.

·         Feathers are contaminated with something, or are wet and matted down.

·         Has poor balance, seizures, cannot turn head straight, is a fledgling and cannot stand up or grip with feet, shaking.

·         Eyes or nostrils appear infected.

·         Droppings are liquid and white or bright green.

·         Has bugs, ants, or flies crawling all over it.

·         One or both of the parents are known to be dead.

If the bird exhibits any of the signs above, rescue it immediately, and bring it to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

Please remember that all wild native songbirds are protected state and federal laws.  They also have very specific dietary needs, requirements for housing, care and release back to the wild.  Due to all of these factors, it is critical that a wild bird in distress only receive care from a properly licensed and experienced wildlife rehabilitator.