What to Do If You See a Baby Bird on the Ground?

It can be heartbreaking to see a baby bird flopping helplessly on the ground, hopping along in vain. Your first impulse may be to scoop it up and save it but wait a minute. Not every grounded nestling needs rescuing.

And sometimes, in fact, the very best aid you can offer is no aid at all. And what to do if you find a baby bird on the ground without a nest depends on a variety of factors: the species, where the bird is, how old it is, and how healthy it appears. Some birds naturally leave the nest before they can fly and rely on their parents to feed them from nearby perches. Others may have fallen too early or been orphaned.

This article breaks down exactly how to assess the situation and what actions you should—or shouldn't—take to give the bird its best chance of survival, or what to do if you find a baby bird on the ground with no nest.

 

First Things First: Is It a Nestling or Fledgling?

Before you spring into action, determine the stage of development of the bird.

Nestlings are downy chicks that have little or no feathers. They’re simply not ready to make it in the world without their nest, and they don’t regulate their body heat very well.

Fledglings, on the other hand, are completely feathered (although they may still appear a bit fluffy) and are in the process of learning to fly. Baby birds of this age often spend a few days on the ground with their parents watching over them.

If the baby bird fell out of nest and it's clearly a nestling, you may be able to place it back safely. If it’s a fledgling, it’s likely best to leave it alone unless it’s in immediate danger.

 

What to Do If the Baby Bird Fell Out of Nest?

If you've confirmed the bird is a nestling, check whether you can find the nest nearby. Many people assume touching a bird will make the parents reject it—this is a myth. Most birds have a poor sense of smell, so placing the chick back won't deter its parents from caring for it.

Look around in the trees, bushes, or nearby structures.  If you find a chick and the nest is okay and accessible, slowly return the chick. Then watch for some time from a distance to ensure the parents come back into the nest. Although the parents are cautious, they will go back to feeding the chicks when they feel it is no longer dangerous.

What Do You Do When You Find a Baby Bird on the Ground and There Is No Nest Visible Around?

You can make a temporary nest using a small basket or a container and surrounding it with dry grass, or paper tissue. Put the nest in a sheltered location and elevate it where the chick was found. You can then move away and observe. If an adult bird has not returned after a couple of hours, you can consider taking the next steps to rescue it.

 

How Do You Know If You Need to Intervene?

The instinct to help is natural, however, in some cases, a person can do more harm than good by intervening in proper wild animal care. There are some situations in which intervention is important.

• The bird is obviously injured (bleeding, limping or does not move)

• It has been attacked by a cat or dog

• There is a baby bird on the ground with no nest and there are no parents in sight after some time.

• There is a risk of harm to the environment (like a busy road, parking lot, and park where predatory animals are present).

In these situations, get the bird gently and pick it up with gloves or soft towel and place into a ventilated container, keep the bird in a safe warm and quiet location. It is important to avoid loud noises and sudden movement will stress the wild animal.

Then contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, veterinarian, or local animal rescue. In many jurisdictions, it's illegal to keep wild birds without a permit.

What To Feed a Baby Bird?

This is an area where people get very confused. Often people ask, "What to feed a baby bird?", thinking that a few pieces of bread or seeds will 'do the trick'. The answer is a lot more complicated than that.

You need to know that different bird species have different dietary needs, and the wrong food could kill them too. Nestlings, for instance, typically need a diet high in protein, so that could include insects, worms, or regurgitated food from their parents, but not necessarily grains and milk.

If you absolutely must feed a baby bird for a short time before transferring it to a nest, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggests a moistened mush that includes soaked dog kibble, hard-boiled eggs, or mealworms. Do not feed bread, milk, or any type of processed human foods.

 

How To Feed a Baby Bird?

Still not sure how to feed a baby bird? It’s possible to gently feed it with the aid of a pair of blunt tweezers or by the use of a small syringe, feeding a small amount of food into its mouth.

But remember, feed only when the chick will voluntarily accept an open beak - never force feed. Overfeeding or incorrect posture can cause aspiration (food entering the lungs), which is often fatal.

 

How to Take Care of a Baby Bird?

The most crucial step after finding a lone baby bird out of its nest is “How to take care of a baby bird now”. So, in that scenario, keep these four basic principles in mind:

1. Warmth is critical: Use a heating pad under half of the container or a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in cloth to help regulate body temperature.

2. Keep it down: Loud noises and overhandling can stress a baby bird. Keep it in a dark, quiet place in your home.

3. Feed properly: Don’t forget, these little babies are in the early days of their lives, so ask or research about feeding. Even just a few days of improper diets can starve or kill them.

4. Avoid contact: Wild birds can imprint on humans easily, particularly at the fledgling stage. Too much exposure can impede future release.

At the end of the day, caring for a baby bird is best left to a wildlife professional. Your role should be short-term support until professional help is available.

 

Don’t Try to Raise It Yourself

It’s worth emphasizing: raising a wild bird is not a DIY project. It’s illegal in many states and countries to keep native wild birds without a permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

No matter how well-meaning, mis-raised birds can become human dependent, poorly nourished, and lack even the basic behaviors associated with survival (foraging, avoiding predators, etc.). Trained rehabbers have the tools, training, and experience needed to give an orphaned or injured bird the best chance of being released back into the wild.

 

Common Missteps To Avoid

· Trying to keep them as pets: aside from being illegal, you also compromise the fledglings' development.

· Overhandling: More handling than necessary could stress and injure the bird.

· Inadvertently feeding food that is unsuitable in a fledgling's diet: bread, milk, and seeds are all unsuitable to provide fledglings/young birds.

 

FAQs About Finding a Baby Bird on the Ground

What Should I Do if I See a Baby Bird Hopping Around on the Ground?

If the baby bird is alert and mostly feathered, it is likely a fledgling learning to fly. Parents are often nearby, so unless the baby bird is in immediate danger, leave it alone.

Can I Feed a Baby Bird, if I Am Not Sure What Species It Is?

That is a gamble. Most birds have specific diets, and you could end up causing more harm than good by feeding them incorrectly. If you must feed it temporarily, use soaked dog food or crushed boiled egg, and seek expert advice ASAP.

How Long Should I Wait to See if the Parents Return?

If the baby bird fell out of nest, give it a couple of hours while observing from a distance. If no adult birds show up or the bird seems weak, call a rehabber.

 

Final Thoughts: What to Do If You See a Baby Bird on the Ground?

Seeing a baby bird on the ground can be one of those moments when compassion collides with caution. You want to help, but it is vital to have a plan of action. With the knowledge of whether the bird is a fledgling or nestling, verifying parental care of the baby bird, and contacting the responsible wildlife authorities, you can help.

Remember, nature has its rhythm, and sometimes, the best thing you can do is to stand back and let the wild take its course. But when genuine intervention is needed, being informed could mean the difference between life and death for that tiny bundle of feathers.

We hope you now completely understand “What to Do If You See a Baby Bird on the Ground?”.

Happy Bird Keeping!