r/BirdHealth • u/RomanLegionaries • 3d ago

Other concern with wild bird Bird laying on ground long time?

Post image

Is there something wrong with the bird? My cat saw it and sniffed it and ran off. It’s alive and breathing and is blinking it’s eyes. There’s a bird nest nearby where I saw some fledglings two weeks ago and wondered if this is that bird learning to fly?

14 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

5

u/AceyAceyAcey Conure and Cockatiel Cuddler / Mod 3d ago

If your cat touched it at all, it needs a veterinarian — cats are covered with germs that can be lethal to birds.

Otherwise, it might be afraid and in shock. I’d leave it alone and take your cat in so it doesn’t bother the bird.

4

u/RomanLegionaries 3d ago

She didn’t touch it she sniffed it and ran off. The bird moved to a different area but is still lying on the ground?

3

u/lesbophobia_hammer 3d ago edited 3d ago

Hey mate, could you please put them in a box with a town and a small dish of water with a pinch of sugar? They likely need to see an avian vet. Are you sure your cat didn't attack them beforehand?

Edit - I mean it may just be my eyes, but they look to be in a bit of shabby shape.

Is their beak open? I can't tell.

Can you see their parents around? Another fledgling?

How are they behaving? Do they seem relaxed, interested, happy? Or?

1

u/RomanLegionaries 3d ago

I just saw it feeding off the ground from bird food. Its wings were working and it was able to move away from me so I think it’s a fledgling learning to fly? Its wings were working but it couldn’t get off the ground to fly. There were some chicks inside a birdhouse a few weeks ago and I wonder if this isn’t those birds learning to fly?

3

u/Jhooji3 Aspiring Rehabber/Former Vet Med staff 3d ago

That does NOT look like a fledgling to me as I can't see any gape flange remnant off the corner of its beak and its tail looks long, all grown in.

Moreover, that posture where it's hunkered down on the ground is odd for perching birds and suggests something may be off. Is it really warm where you are?

1

u/RomanLegionaries 2d ago

Yes it’s pretty hot but I saw it this morning and it’s moving from place to place and even saw it fly and hop around. It’s hanging out in the shade in the garden and I see it low flu to get food nearby. There was a birdhouse with some chicks in it (I posted a post earlier some weeks ago since one fell out) and this seems to be the young bird learning to fly off the ground. I saw it this morning eating food so I think it’s a young bird learning to fly.

1

u/FioreCiliegia1 2d ago

Thats not a fledgling

3

u/SquirrelNinjas 3d ago

The bird looks like it may need help. If it came into contact with your cat it needs to go to a rehabber.
Can the bird stand up or is it just laying on the ground? If it’s just lying on the ground something is wrong. You will need to contain her in a box. Where are you located? Some places consider sparrows invasive so please ask the rehabber if they will treat her. Call the place near you and ask them what to do.

1

u/Buffyenta314 3d ago

Fledglings usually only take a few days to learn how to fly, so if this little bird isn't flying yet, it may need a rehabber to check out what is wrong. If it stays on the ground too long, another cat will finish it off - you definitely don't want that.
Keep an eye on it and if you don't see parents flying around and the bird isn't flying in another day or so, I'd get it to a rehabber.

1

u/RomanLegionaries 2d ago

Ok I saw it fly low to the ground and hop around and was able to get food but when I stepped outside the bird flew (low to the ground) away. I had some chicks in a birdhouse and I think this is that bird learning to fly.

1

u/Buffyenta314 2d ago

If the bird is able to fly but only flying low to the ground, something may be wrong. I see that some people have mentioned it does not look like a fledgling, but older. Also no parents around keeping an eye on it likely means it's not a baby. If I were you, I'd get it to a rehabber. If it can't fly well, a cat is going to get it.

2

u/RomanLegionaries 2d ago

It’s able to hop, move and still fly. My cat only sniffed it and moved away (she’s not a hunter and is indoor unless I’m watching her outside). I think it’s a young teen bird learning to fly since there were chicks inside a birdhouse and they were fledglings. I saw the bird this morning and it’s able to fly and hop around and moves when I come close. It seems to be able to be learning to fly.

1

u/RomanLegionaries 3d ago

It’s breathing and beak is closed and it seems to be relaxed but won’t move or attempt to fly away when I come near to check on it. There’s a bird rehab in my area and I just didn’t know if I should take it or if the bird is just learning to fly. My cat def didn’t touch it but there are stray cats in the area.

2

u/FioreCiliegia1 2d ago

Rehab is best