Claire Thompson
It is a common misconception that a mother bird will abandon its chick if it smells a human's scent on its baby. In reality, most birds have a limited sense of smell and will not be able to detect human scent. Even if they could, birds are unlikely to abandon their chicks for this reason alone, as they invest a lot of time and energy into producing their offspring. Birds will only abandon their nests if they feel there is a real threat of danger nearby. Therefore, if you find a baby bird on the ground, it is best to leave it alone, as the parents are likely nearby and will continue to care for it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Do birds have a strong sense of smell? | No, most birds have a limited sense of smell due to their small olfactory bulbs. Exceptions include starlings and turkey vultures, which can hone in on certain scents linked to food sources. |
| Will birds abandon their chicks if they smell humans on them? | No, birds will not abandon their chicks solely because they smell humans on them. They invest significant time and energy into producing offspring, and the human scent alone is unlikely to deter them. Birds may abandon their nests if they feel unsafe or perceive a real threat of danger. |
| What should you do if you find a baby bird on the ground? | If the bird is a nestling (without feathers), it can be gently picked up and placed back in its nest. If it is a fledgling (with feathers), it is normal for them to spend a few days on the ground learning to fly and developing survival skills. Unless in immediate danger, it is best to leave fledglings alone as their parents are likely nearby. |
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What You'll Learn
Birds have a poor sense of smell
It is a common misconception that birds will abandon their chicks and eggs if they smell humans on them. In reality, most birds have a poor sense of smell and are unable to detect human scent. For example, garden birds have relatively small olfactory bulbs, limiting their ability to perceive odours. Similarly, songbirds like warblers lack a sense of smell and will not abandon their nests due to human odour.
While birds, in general, have a limited sense of smell, there are exceptions. Certain species, such as starlings and turkey vultures, possess a well-developed sense of smell that aids them in locating food sources. Turkey vultures, for instance, can track the scent of decaying flesh to find carrion. Their sense of smell is so acute that it has been utilised to detect leaks in oil pipelines by pumping ethyl mercaptan, a chemical resembling the smell of rotting meat.
Another example is the New Zealand kiwi, which has limited eyesight but a keen sense of smell. It sweeps its bill back and forth to sniff out insects in leaf litter. Honeyguides, a type of bird that leads people and animals to beehives, also have a well-developed sense of smell, enabling them to locate concealed beeswax candles.
Despite these examples, the majority of birds have a limited or poor sense of smell. The ability to perceive odours varies among bird species, with factors such as olfactory bulb size and lifestyle influencing their sense of smell. Therefore, it is unlikely that a bird will smell humans on its chicks, and even if it could, the presence of human scent alone is not a reason for birds to abandon their nests.
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Birds won't abandon chicks because of human scent
It is a common misconception that birds will abandon their chicks if they smell humans on them. In reality, most birds have a limited sense of smell and are unable to detect human scent. Even birds with a stronger sense of smell, such as starlings and turkey vultures, are not cued to the scent of humans.
Biologists and ornithologists confirm that birds do not abandon their chicks due to human scent. Miyoko Chu, a biologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, explains that birds have a weak sense of smell and are not easily deterred from taking care of their young. Similarly, Thomas E. Martin, a biologist from the University of Montana and the U.S. Geological Survey, asserts that birds respond to disturbance and the risk of harm to their offspring, rather than human touch or scent.
Frank B. Gill, former president of the American Ornithologists' Union, agrees that birds do not readily abandon their young, especially not due to human touch. He notes that once the young have hatched, bird parents are "by and large pretty tenacious." This is supported by Laura Simon, field director for the Urban Wildlife Program at the Humane Society of the United States, who states that wild animals, including birds, generally bond with their young and do not quickly abandon them.
In most cases, if a human touches a bird's chick, the best course of action is to leave the chick alone and minimise disturbance. The parents are likely nearby, watching from a distance, and will continue to care for their chick. Disturbing a bird's nest can attract the attention of predators, which poses a greater risk to the chicks. Therefore, it is important to respect the bird's space and allow it to care for its young without interference.
If a chick is in a dangerous location, such as on a road or in an area with many cats, it may be appropriate to gently pick up the chick and place it back in its nest. However, it is essential to do so gently and quietly, minimising any disturbance to the bird's environment.
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Human interference can attract predators
Therefore, it is essential to minimise any disturbance to bird nests and leave baby birds alone if they are found. In most cases, the parents are likely to be nearby, watching from a distance, and will continue to care for their chicks even if humans have touched them. Interfering with a bird's nest can do more harm than good and increase the risk of attracting predators.
Birds are devoted to their young and will not easily be deterred from taking care of them. They invest a lot of time and energy into producing their offspring, so they are unlikely to abandon their nests unless they feel there is a real threat. Longer-living birds, like hawks, are more sensitive to disturbances and may be more likely to abandon their young than short-lived birds, like robins and songbirds.
If a baby bird is found on the ground, it is important to determine if it is a nestling or a fledgling. Nestlings are too young to survive outside the nest and should be gently placed back into their nest. Fledglings, on the other hand, typically have their first coat of feathers and can move about by themselves. It is normal for fledglings to spend a few days on the ground while learning to fly and developing other survival skills. Unless they are in immediate danger, it is best to leave them alone and let their parents continue to care for them.
In summary, human interference can indeed attract predators to bird nests. While birds do not have a strong sense of smell and will not abandon their chicks due to a human scent, they are sensitive to disturbances. Minimising interference is crucial to protect both the birds and humans involved and prevent attracting unwanted attention from predators.
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Baby birds on the ground may not need help
It is a common misconception that a bird will abandon its nest or chicks if it smells humans on its babies or eggs. Most garden birds have a poor sense of smell, and even those with a better sense of smell would not abandon their offspring due to the scent of humans alone. In fact, the real issue is disturbance. If you find a baby bird on the ground, it is likely a fledgling, and it will not need your help. Fledglings are feathered and capable of hopping or flitting, with toes that can tightly grip your finger or a twig. They are generally adorable and fluffy, with a tiny stub of a tail. It is perfectly normal for fledglings to spend a few days on the ground while they learn to fly, and their parents are probably nearby, allowing them some independence to grow and develop. Unless a fledgling is in immediate danger, you should leave it alone.
If you find a baby bird out of its nest, it is important to first determine whether the bird is a hatchling, nestling, or fledgling. A hatchling is a bird that has recently hatched from the egg, and it will have no feathers and closed eyes. If you find a hatchling on the ground, it will need your help, as it is unable to fend for itself and will likely die without assistance. If you find a nestling, it is too young to be able to survive outside the nest, so you can gently pick it up and place it back in its nest. If the nest has been damaged or is too high to reach, you can place the bird in a covered box with air holes and a cloth or soft bedding. Place the box in a dark, quiet place away from people and pets, and contact your local wildlife rehabilitation center to arrange for further care.
If you find both parents dead, the young bird is injured, you can’t find the nest, or are absolutely certain that the bird was orphaned, then your best course of action is to bring it to a wildlife rehabilitator. A sick, injured, or orphaned baby bird may need emergency care until you can get it to a wildlife rehabilitator. Remember that it is an offence to intentionally take, damage, or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built, or to intentionally kill, injure, or take chicks or adults, or intentionally take or destroy any eggs.
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It's illegal to interfere with bird nests
It is illegal to interfere with bird nests. Most bird nests are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) of 1918. This law states that it is illegal to "take (kill), possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such bird". This means that it is illegal to destroy a nest that has eggs or chicks in it or if there are young birds that are still dependent on the nest for survival. It is also illegal to keep a nest that has been taken out of a tree or found on the ground, unless a permit has been issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Under the MBTA, it is also illegal to collect, possess, or transfer possession of migratory bird nests. However, the MBTA does not prohibit the destruction of a bird nest without eggs or birds in it, as long as there is no possession during the destruction. That being said, nest destruction that results in the unpermitted taking of migratory birds or their eggs is illegal and prosecutable under the MBTA. The MBTA also protects birds that are not considered "migratory", such as Mourning Doves and Chickadees.
In the UK, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, all birds and their nests are protected while in use or being built and cannot be destroyed or interfered with unless certain conditions are met and a licence is granted by the Government Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA / AHVLA).
It is worth noting that the myth that birds will abandon their nests or chicks if they smell humans on their babies or eggs is untrue. Most birds have a limited sense of smell and will not abandon their nests unless they feel there is a real threat of danger nearby. Therefore, if you find a baby bird on the ground, it is best to leave it alone as the parents are likely nearby.
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Frequently asked questions
No, birds will not abandon their chicks if they smell humans on them. Most birds have a limited sense of smell and will not be able to detect human scent. Even if they could, they are unlikely to abandon their chicks for this reason alone, as they invest a lot of time and energy in producing their offspring.
If you find a baby bird on the ground, it is important to determine if it is a nestling or a fledgling. Nestlings are too young to survive outside the nest, so if you find one on the ground, you can gently pick it up and place it back in its nest. Fledglings, on the other hand, typically have their first coat of feathers and can move about by themselves. They may spend a few days on the ground while learning to fly and developing other survival skills. Unless they are in immediate danger, it is best to leave them alone as their parents are usually nearby.
The myth that birds will abandon their chicks if they smell humans on them may have originated as a way for parents to prevent their children from handling baby birds and bringing them home as pets. Disturbance is the main reason birds abandon their nests, and handling baby birds may attract the attention of predators, putting the chicks at risk.
