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About Julia Booth
Expertise
I can answer questions about bird identification (by sight or sound), behavior, distribution, population, conservation, mating, nesting, fledging and feeding. I do have some practical knowledge about foreign species, but identification skills are limited in that arena.

Experience
I have ten years birding experience in Southern California. I am well versed in all the species living in the Western US. Many hours spent birding. I have been frequently told I should lend my knowledge to good use, and have encountered few bird related questions that I cannot answer.

Organizations
Audubon Society

Education/Credentials
My education is in art and photography -but I have a substantial portfolio of nature related work.

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Birding/Wild Birds > Birding > Baby Bird

Birding - Baby Bird

Expert: Julia Booth - 11/4/2009

Question
I found a baby bird one week ago today in a parking lot. I have owned and worked with birds in the past so I'm familiar with hand feeding. When I first saw this baby bird I didn't have a clue as to what breed it was. It was a dull grey with no distinctive markings, had quite a few pin feathers but, at the time, I wasn't even sure they were pin feathers because they weren't white or straight. The pin feathers were yellow and almost curly. I thought the bird had been abused or singed by something or someone. Thank goodness I was wrong. I purchased some baby bird formula and had to force feed it for the first few days. Now the bird takes the dropper fairly readily. In this week, the adult feathers have come in a lot and it's almost able to fly. I believe it is a dove or pigeon. But, my question to you is; once I get it on pigeon feed and it's eating well on it's own how do I acclimate it to the wild again and will it be able to find food for itself? Is there something I can do to aide in this process? FYI: The bird is solid grayish brown on the top part of it's body and wings with the chest and underbelly being a slightly lighter gray. The tail is straight with several white feathers on the underside. I had to fan the tail to see the white feathers. It sits on a towel I put in the tank but it has access to a branch, hay, and some dirt. It prefers the towel. The beak is black and straight with a slight widening on the top center part between the nostrils and the tip. No markings at all.

Thank you.

C

Answer
I have never heard of feeding a "baby" bird anything of a liquid consistency with a dropper. That is a sure fire way to drown them, as they do not develop the ability to drink until they are ready to fledge. They generally get all the liquid they need from their food. What sort of formula did you say this was and where did you buy it?

Without knowing what kind of bird it is, I can't say for sure what you should or shouldn't do as far as releasing it. Most birds can be re-released into the wild with no problem. Most birds of pray and scavengers cannot.

I could most certainly ID this bird with a picture. Can you take one? Because otherwise all I can give you is my best guess.

Julia

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