The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the trees are growing and all the signs are there that spring is here, which only means one thing – baby bird season has begun! Unlike pigeons who breed all year round, our native garden birds typically breed in the warmer spring and summer months, with fledged chicks having the benefit of the summer and autumn to grow and enjoy before the harsh winter months return. Sadly, every year nests get destroyed, adult birds die and orphan baby birds are found with no-one to care for them. 

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Before picking up a baby bird it is very important to ensure it is truly an orphan. This is because in many occasions the parents are still around and picking them up is harmful in these cases. 

The RSPCA have great advice on this here, and you can read our previous blog post on this.

So should you feed a wild baby bird? 

The short answer is no. Baby birds all have different specialist natural diets depending on what species they are and how old they are. For example: 

– Pigeons and doves 

These are one of the few families of birds who produce crop milk for their young. Replicating this is a very specialised task which involves crop feeding the bird a specialist formula. It is very important these animals are transferred to a wildlife rehabber as soon as possible. This is to ensure they get the appropriate nutrition, as crop feeding a bird is a specialist skill. And if done incorrectly can lead to significant damage and harm. 

– Blackbirds and Thrushes 

As omnivores, they have a diet high in insects including snails, earthworms and insect larvae but they also eat wild berries and fruit. As infants they are fed a mixed diet by their parents. An orphan can be fed specialist bird mix at regular intervals. This mix is carefully worked out to make sure it has the right amount of protein, fibre and nutrients to try and best replicate their wild diet. Wildlife rehabbers are excellent in ensuring they have this formula to hand and are well equipped for the spring and summer season when these orphans arrive. 

– Corvids such as rooks, crows and jackdaws 

These birds are primarily carnivores feeding on carrion. Infants are fed by their parents. Again a suitable diet is replicated by wildlife rehabbers to ensure it has the correct amount of protein and nutrients and best matches their wild diet. In addition young corvids can imprint on people which can affect their ability to successfully survive in the wild. As a result hand feeding of these animals is done with specialist methods and equipment to prevent this happening. Transfer to a wildlife rehabber ASAP is important to ensure they can receive this. 

What about if I can’t get a bird to a wildlife rehabber until tomorrow? 

In the very short term, for example overnight whilst waiting to transfer the bird to a wildlife rehabber, the bird should be offered 1-2 drops of clean water on the tip of a small paintbrush every 30 mins between the hours of 6am-8pm as a rough guide. The bird should open its mouth, known as gaping, to accept this water. If it does not do this you can gently dribble the drop of water on the side of its beak. Never force the beak open or force the bird to eat or drink; this can be very harmful. 

It is important to make sure this brush is cleaned and dried thoroughly after each use and is not used for different birds to prevent spread of disease. It is also very important to make sure the bird swallows the water offered before offering more and its feathers are not wet in the process as this will cause damage. 

Offering water in this way will ensure the bird remains hydrated before it is transferred to a wildlife rehabber the next day.

The bottom line – transfer to a wildlife rehabber ASAP 

Feeding orphan birds is a specialist task and all orphans should be transferred to a wildlife rehabber as soon as possible to ensure they get the correct care and nutrition. If a bird is fed the wrong feed or fed incorrectly it can rapidly result in poor health and illness and as they are so young and dependent this can quickly become lethal. 

You can find details of your local wildlife rehabber here: 

Summary: 

  • Feeding wild baby birds is a specialist task 
  • Incorrectly feeding baby birds can result in serious health issues which can be lethal – all orphan baby birds should be transferred to a wildlife rehabber as soon as possible

Further reading: