How to Identify Baby Birds

The baby birds are sure to make you feel compassion. They look so small, weak and very vulnerable when you happen to see one falling out of the nest. However, before getting up close, take a moment to identify from a distance. Identifying baby birds not only helps determine the species and age of the bird, but also determines whether it needs your help.

Table of Contents

Determine if the baby bird is a baby bird or a fledgling

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Check the chicks’ feathers. Chicks are classified as chicks or hatchlings based on their age. Young birds are very small and do not have many feathers. ^{[1] X Source of Research} Birds are older than young birds and have more feathers, but do not yet know how to use their wing feathers to fly.

Young birds will not be able to get out of the nest because they are not yet able to fly or settle on a branch. ^{[2] X Research Source}
Young birds cannot forage on their own early, meaning they are completely dependent on their parents and must stay in the nest. Newly hatched nightingales and cicadas are like weak chicks. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
The bird looks a bit disheveled overall.

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Observe the behavior of the chicks. If it’s a bird, it will probably jump or run on the ground, because it hasn’t learned how to use its muscles and feathers to fly. It’s also more likely that the birds have fallen out of the nest as they may become impatient in leaving the nest, but end up falling out instead of ascending gently.

Although baby birds can’t move on the ground, they will open their mouths wide for food, and will even chirp if you don’t feed them! ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Place the baby bird back in its nest. Before trying to determine the breed of a baby bird, it’s a good idea to move it out of the danger zone, especially for a baby bird. If you can detect the nest where the chick fell, gently lift the bird (with bare hands or a towel) and place it back into the nest. If you can’t find a nest, make one yourself.

To make a bird’s nest, line hay or dry leaves in a shoebox or wicker basket. Place the temporary nest off the ground with the baby bird inside and wait for the parent bird to return for about an hour. ^{[5] X Research Sources}
If the parents don’t return, start planning to take the chicks to a wildlife rescue center.
There is a belief that touching a baby bird will cause the parent bird to reject it.
If the chick seems cold to the touch, warm the bird in the palm of your hand before returning it to the nest (or the makeshift nest you made). When returning to the nest, the parents can push the chicks that are cold to the side to protect the eggs or other chicks from the cold. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Place the bird on a branch. Even though the bird is dropped from the nest, the bird does not need to return to the nest. Since larks can use their toes for a firm grip, extend your index finger as a branch and use bird food to encourage the bird to perch on your finger. Once the bird is in your hand, gently place it on a bush or branch. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

If the bird doesn’t want to land on your finger, try gently wrapping the bird with a towel to pick it up and place it off the ground.
If you put the bird back in the nest, it may fall out of the nest again. ^{[8] X Research Sources}
Birds need to stay high above the ground to avoid predators.

Observe the external features and nests of the chicks

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You should understand that identifying the species of the baby bird will be a big challenge. Often it is difficult to determine the species of a baby bird. Young birds often do not resemble adults of the same type, especially in feather color and length. In addition, the color and length of the chicks’ feathers can change in just a few days, making identification even more difficult.

As difficult as it may be, you should do your best to determine the breed of the baby bird. When contacting the wildlife center, you can provide them with this information so that the staff understands the baby birds being brought to them.
If you need to take care of your baby bird before transferring it to a wildlife shelter, give the bird basic support regardless of its species. For example, you can keep it warm by placing it in a shoebox filled with paper towels (make sure to cut a hole in the lid) and place the incubator on ‘low’ below the box. ^{[9] X Research Source} You could also feed it.

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Look at the baby bird’s beak. Usually, a baby bird’s beak will be large and disproportionate to its head size. This is because the baby bird’s head is not fully formed. Basically, the head will have to be proportional to the size of the beak.

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Observe coat length and coat color. The feathers of the chicks are usually short, fluffy, and messy. Sometimes, the color of the chicks’ feathers will be the same as that of adults of the same species, especially the wings and tail. Most of the time, the chicks’ feathers are very pale to hide from predators.

Know what to do with baby birds

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Determine if the baby bird needs your help. Usually, it’s better to leave the chicks alone. ^{[13] X Research Source} Even if the parents are not seen there, chances are they don’t fly too far and will return to the nest (or ground) to feed the chicks. However, if you see signs of injury in the chicks (e.g. broken beak, missing or injured toe, several bites), you should take the baby bird to a veterinarian or an animal rescue center. wild animals. ^{[14] X Research Source}

The baby bird also needs your help if it is sick (eg, cold, sick).
For young birds, extra care may be needed if the parents have not returned within an hour. However, keep in mind that the parent bird may not come close to the nest if you are too close. You should stand at least 30 meters away from the bird’s nest.
In a nest where a baby bird dies, the nest has been abandoned. Any surviving chicks will need help. ^{[15] X Research Source}

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Do not try to raise baby birds. This is hard to say! If you are not a licensed wildlife worker, it is illegal to keep wildlife in captivity. Aside from being illegal, raising wild chicks is extremely time-consuming because the chicks need to be fed every 15 to 20 minutes. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Even with good intentions, it’s unlikely you’ll do a better job raising baby birds than their parents or wildlife workers.

Advice

Young birds and larks can be very difficult to tell apart. Contact a wildlife shelter if you’re not sure if it’s a baby bird or a robin. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Many falcons are taken to veterinary clinics or wildlife rescue centers because they have been rescued in the wrong way.
Normally, scorpions will be fed by their parents while they are learning to fly on the ground.

Warning

Wild birds, even young birds, can transmit diseases and cause serious injury. ^{[22] X Research Source}
Young birds lying on the ground have little chance of survival because of predators like raccoons, small carnivores and even domestic cats. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
Returning a young bird to the nest may not be successful, especially if it is strayed from the nest and is exposed to unexpected conditions (eg, nest falling due to bad weather, young birds being attacked by aggressive birds). other evil bullies). ^{[24] X Research Sources}

Steps

Determine if the baby bird is a baby bird or a fledgling

Observe the external features and nests of the chicks

Know what to do with baby birds

Advice

Warning

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