SONGBIRD RESCUE AND CARE GUIDE

This guide provides essential information for rescuing and caring for songbirds, including finches, sparrows, robins, mockingbirds, jays, crows, ravens, pigeons, towhees, and similar species. It includes steps to assess the bird’s condition and determine the necessary actions based on the bird’s age, health, and circumstances.

SECTION 1: Determine the Age and Type of Songbird

1. Step 1: Is the bird a hummingbird?
   • If the bird has a long, pointed, needle-like beak, he is a hummingbird.
2. Step 2: Determine the bird’s age:
   • No feathers (pink/naked): Hatchling, requires immediate care. [See Section 4: How to Rescue a Baby Bird].
   • Downy feathers (white and fluffy with pink skin visible) or pin-feathers (you can see the feathers in their sheaths):  Nestling, requires immediate care. [See Section 4: How to Rescue a Baby Bird].
   • Adult Feathers with some downy feathers and short tail: Fledgling, may not require rescue. [See Section 3: How to Determine if a Fledgling Songbird Needs to Be Rescued].
   • All adult feathers: Adult songbird, requires rescue if injured or unable to fly. [See Section 2: Rescuing an Adult Songbird].

SECTION 2: Rescuing an Adult Songbird

Rescue an adult songbird if he exhibits any of the following:

• Falling over or unable to fly.
• Caught by a cat, dog, or other animal.
• Weak, shivering, or lethargic.
• Wing drooping or tweaked upward.
• Feathers fluffed up.
• Bleeding.
• Does not fly away when approached.

How to Rescue an Adult Songbird

1. Prepare for rescue:
   • Cover hands with light gloves or a tea towel to prevent bites or scratches.Songbirds may also carry parasites like feather lice.
   • Use a box or paper bag with pre-punched air holes and a lid that can be closed completely. Line it with paper towels, tissue, or light material.
2. Capture the bird:
   • Gently toss a lightweight net or towel over the bird.
   • Use both hands to gently scoop the bird up with the net/towel.
   • Hold the bird gently but firmly.
3. Place the bird in the box:
   • Place the bird, along with the net or towel, in the box or bag. Do not keep the bird wrapped tightly in the material.
   • Close the box tightly and bring the bird to WildCare or your closest wildlife care center as soon as possible.. 
   • If there is any delay in getting the bird to care, keep the bird in a warm, dark, quiet location away from children and pets. Do not peek at the bird.
4. Important reminders:
   • Do NOT offer food or water — the bird will not eat or drink in captivity, and water or food can spill and soak the bird’s feathers.
   • Bring the bird to WildCare or your closest wildlife care center as soon as possible..

SECTION 3: How to Determine if a Fledgling Songbird Needs to Be Rescued

Recognizing a Fledgling

• Fully developed feathers, short tail.
• Can perch, hop, or walk.
• Learning to fly (can take up to two weeks).
• Not in need of rescue unless injured, ill, or orphaned.
• Healthy fledglings that require no immediate intervention are:
  • Bright-eyed and healthy-looking
  • Hopping or fluttering
  • Parent birds are present and feeding the baby

Assessing the Situation

• Check for Dangers: Is the fledgling in a safe location? Are there cats nearby, or is he in a park with dogs and children running about?
• Observe the Parent Birds: Watch from a distance of 50 feet or more for 60-90 minutes. If parents are feeding the fledgling, no intervention is needed. However, if the parents are NOT feeding the fledgling after 60-90 minutes of observation, the bird needs to be rescued.
• Observe the Fledgling: If the bird is active (hopping, fluttering), leave him be and observe for 60-90 minutes. If the young bird appears listless, capture the bird (use directions in SECTION 4: How to Rescue a Baby Bird) and check the bird’s droppings for signs of malnutrition or orphaning.
  • Clear white-ish poop or green bile indicates that the baby bird is not being fed and may be orphaned
  • Color in the poop (brown, purple, etc.) suggests that the parent birds are feeding the baby, and he should be returned to his original location.

Returning a Fledgling to his Territory

If the bird’s poop or a checkup at the Wildlife Hospital indicates the bird is healthy, follow these instructions to return him to his territory.

• Before returning:
  • Ensure pets and children are indoors.
  • If the bird can perch on your finger, place him in a low bush near where you found him.
  • For high-traffic areas, place the fledgling in a safer area, near where you found him. Place him under the cover of bushes. He will vocalize and call the parent birds to him once he feels it is safe to do so.
• Monitor the bird for at least 1 hour, from indoors at a distance
• The parent birds should find and resume feeding and caring for their baby. It is NOT true that parent birds will reject their baby if a human has touched him. Birds will not reject their baby because of human handling.
  • If you do not see the parent birds attending to their fledgling after lengthy observation, ask for guidance:
    • IF DURING BUSINESS HOURS (9am - 5pm PST): Call WildCare at 415-456-7283 for assistance 
      • If in Marin, bring rescued animals to WildCare
      • If outside Marin, use AnimalHelpNow.org to find your closest wildlife care center
    • IF DURING E-LINE HOURS (5pm - 9pm PST): Call WildCare’s volunteer-run Emergency Line for advice and handling instructions at 415-456-7283
    • IF AFTER HOURS BUT IN MARIN: Call the Marin Humane Officer on Duty at 415-883-4621 and press “1”
    • IF OUTSIDE THE BAY AREA: If you are outside of the San Francisco Bay Area, there may be another wildlife care center closer to you. Visit AnimalHelpNow.org to find your nearest wildlife hospital.
    • IF AFTER HOURS AND OUTSIDE MARIN: Follow the instructions in SECTION 4: How to Rescue a Baby Bird

SECTION 4: How to Rescue a Baby Bird

1. Prepare for rescue:
   • Wear light gloves or use a tea towel to handle the bird.
   • Use a box with a secure lid or paper bag. Pre-punch air holes.
2. Capture the baby bird:
   • Gently place a lightweight net or towel over the bird and scoop him up carefully.
   • Hold the bird gently but firmly.
   • Place the bird, along with the net or towel, in the box or bag. Do not keep the bird wrapped tightly in the material.
   • Close the box securely.
3. Keep the baby warm:
   • If the bird is a hatchling or nestling, warmth is essential. Please ask for further instructions on keeping them warm.
     1. Only put the heat source on one side of the container to give the bird the option to move off the heat if he gets too warm.
4. Transport the bird:
   • Bring the baby bird to WildCare or your closest wildlife care center immediately.

SECTION 5: What to Do If an Entire Nest of Baby Birds Has Fallen

1. Rescue the nest:
   • Babies in the nest will likely have been injured in the fall. They will need urgent care at WildCare or your nearest wildlife hospital.
   • Wear light gloves and collect the entire nest with the babies inside.
   • Place the nest in an appropriately-sized box lined with cloth or paper towels.
2. Immediate care:
   • Bring the nest to WildCare or the nearest wildlife hospital.
   • Do not offer food or water.
   • Keep the baby birds warm until they can be brought to care. Please let me know if you need further instructions on this. Do not overheat the baby birds.
3. Important note: NEVER attempt to renest a single baby bird in a different nest. Parent birds will not tend more than one nest.