Mia Patel
It can be distressing to see a baby bird fallen from its nest, and your first instinct may be to help. However, in most cases, the bird is fine, and intervening could do more harm than good. If the bird has feathers and can walk, hop, or grip your finger with its foot, it's a fledgling, and you should leave it alone. If the bird doesn't have feathers yet, it's a nestling, and you should place it back into its nest. If the nest has been destroyed, you can make a new one and place the chick inside. If the bird is injured or orphaned, contact a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian for help.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First steps | Evaluate the chick's health and check for injuries or illness. |
| If the chick is injured or orphaned | Call a wildlife rehabilitation centre or vet. |
| If the chick is a nestling | Place it back in its nest or, if the nest is destroyed, make a new one. |
| If the chick is a fledgling | Leave it alone, but consider moving it to a safe location if necessary. |
| If the chick is a swift | Put on gloves and place it in a cardboard box with some holes and newspaper. |
| Feeding | Feed the chick raw meat or mealworms and water using a syringe without a needle. |
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What You'll Learn
If the chick is injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitator
If a baby chick has fallen from its nest and is visibly injured, it is important to contact a wildlife rehabilitator. Firstly, put on gloves and carefully pick up the chick, placing it in a small cardboard box lined with paper towels or newspaper. Do not attempt to feed the chick, but ensure it is kept warm and in a calm, quiet place. If the chick has its eyes closed or does not have feathers, it is too young to be out of the nest and requires immediate attention.
You can find a wildlife rehabilitator by searching for your local wildlife rehabilitation centre or rescue service. Many states and counties have lists of licensed rehabilitators, often provided by the Department of Natural Resources or a similar body. For example, in Alabama, you can contact the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, while in Arizona, you can refer to the Game and Fish Department's map of wildlife rehabilitators. If you are in San Diego, you can call the San Diego Humane Society's Project Wildlife on 619-299-7012.
In some cases, you may need to contact your local Game and Wildlife office, Division of Forestry and Wildlife office, or a similar organisation. For instance, in Montana, you can call Montana WILD's Rehabilitation Centre on 406-444-9942, while in Missouri, you should call the Department of Conservation Regional Office. In West Virginia, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Program provides information on rehabilitators by phone on 304-906-5438 or 304-366-2867, depending on the region.
If you are unable to locate a rehabilitator, you can call your regional DNR law enforcement district or regional headquarters for guidance. Response times may vary, and if you are unable to get in touch with a rehabilitator, you may need to contact a local FWC regional office during business hours or a wildlife rescue hotline.
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If it's a nestling, put it back in its nest
If the chick that has fallen from the nest is a nestling, it will need your help. Nestlings are typically around three days to two weeks old and are too young to be out of the nest. They are small and typically have no feathers or just a few sprouted feathers. If you find a nestling on the ground, they will need your assistance as they are vulnerable to weather, predators, and malnourishment.
Firstly, put on gloves or, if you don't have gloves, wash your hands. If the nest is still intact and within reach, simply place the nestling back in the nest. If the nest has been damaged or is too high to reach, you can create a new nest. Find a small container, like a basket, and line it with something dry, such as a scrap of fabric or straw. Gently place the nestling inside, and affix the artificial nest in a sheltered area of a tree close to the bird's original location. Make sure it is out of range of any predators, such as cats or dogs, and that there are no people or companion animals lingering nearby.
Once you have placed the nestling back in its nest, you should quietly watch from a distance for a few hours to make sure that a parent comes back to feed it. If the parent doesn't return, you will need to take further steps to care for the orphaned nestling.
It is important to act quickly when helping a nestling that has fallen from its nest, as they cannot keep themselves warm and are vulnerable to the elements and predators.
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If it's a fledgling, leave it alone
If the chick is a fledgling, it is likely that it does not need your help. Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping, flitting, or gripping your finger or a twig. They are usually between 13 and 14 days old or older. Fledglings are still under the care of their parents, who are likely keeping an eye on them from nearby. They spend around one to two weeks on the ground, learning to fly. It is perfectly normal for fledglings to hop out of the nest and onto the ground when they are learning to fly.
If the fledgling is uninjured, it is best to leave it alone. You can watch from a distance to make sure that its parents are returning to care for it. If you are concerned about the fledgling's health and safety, you can check on it every one to two days to make sure that it is still hopping around and that its parents are checking on it occasionally. If the fledgling is injured or orphaned, contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.
If there are cats, dogs, or people nearby, carefully move the fledgling onto a low branch or into a bush. Avoid putting the fledgling in a nearby nest, as it will just jump back out. Avoid giving the fledgling food or water, as its parents will bring these to it from time to time.
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If the nest is destroyed, make a new one
If you come across a chick that has fallen from its nest, the first thing to do is to determine whether it is a nestling or a fledgling. Nestlings are sparsely feathered and not capable of hopping, walking, flitting, or gripping tightly onto something, while fledglings are fully feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can tightly grip your finger or a twig.
If the chick is a nestling, and the nest is destroyed, make a new one. You can use a small basket, a berry container, or a plant pot with holes in the bottom. Line the container with grass, leaves, or shredded paper. Place a stick at an angle in the bottom of the nest for the parents to perch on, then hang the nest from a branch in a safe place, away from predators and out of direct sunlight. This temporary nest will give the baby bird a home until it’s ready to leave.
If the chick is a fledgling, it is important to note that they rarely return to the nest after leaving. In this case, you can put the bird on a nearby perch out of harm's way and keep pets indoors. The parents may be attending to four or five young scattered in different directions, but they will return to care for the one you have found.
If the chick is injured or in immediate danger, put on gloves, pick it up, and place it in a small bowl lined with paper towels. Avoid feeding the chick and contact your local wildlife centre right away so you can bring the bird to a professional caregiver.
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If the chick is in danger, move it to a safe spot
If the chick is in immediate danger, it is best to move it to a safe spot. This should be a sheltered location, no more than a few metres away from its original position. The new spot should be calm and quiet, and the chick should still be easily found by its parents. It is recommended to wear gloves when handling the chick to avoid unnecessary contact.
If the chick is a fledgling, it is normal to see them on the ground, as they have left the nest and are learning to fly. Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can grip your finger or a twig. In this case, the best course of action is to leave the chick alone and monitor it from a distance, as the parents are usually nearby and feeding the bird.
If the chick is a nestling, it is not yet ready to leave the nest and should be placed back as soon as possible. Nestlings often still have some bare skin showing and may be sparsely feathered. If the nest has been destroyed, you can make a new one by using a basket or plant pot with some nesting material inside, securely attached to the nearest tree.
If the chick is injured, it is important to contact your local wildlife rehabilitation centre or veterinarian as soon as possible. An injured chick will need specialist care and rehabilitation to survive.
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Frequently asked questions
First, determine whether the chick is injured or ill. If it is injured, contact your local wildlife centre or vet right away. If it is uninjured, give the chick's parents about two hours to remedy the situation.
If you can't find the nest, you can make a replacement nest to put the chick back into. This could be as simple as a basket or plant pot with some nesting material inside, securely attached to the nearest tree.
No, this is a myth. It is fine to carefully lift a baby chick.
Fledglings are fully feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can grip your finger or a twig. Fledglings rarely return to the nest after leaving, so it is not a good idea to put them back in. Instead, move them to a safe location if needed, but otherwise, leave them alone.
Nestlings often still have some bare skin showing. If you find a nestling outside of a nest, you should put it back in the nest as quickly as possible.
