Do not feed a baby bird, or give it water, unless a licensed wildlife rehabilitator tells you to. Wrong food, such as bread or milk, can harm it. Most baby birds on the ground are fledglings whose parents are nearby and still feeding them, so leave them alone. If a chick is hurt or truly orphaned, ask an adult to call a rehabilitator.
what to feed a baby bird quick facts
- Experts say not to give a baby bird food or water.
- Bread and milk are harmful to baby birds.
- Most baby birds on the ground are fledglings learning to fly.
- Parent birds do not reject a chick because a human touched it.
- Five chickadee chicks need 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars.
The short answer: do not feed it
If you find a baby bird, the best answer to “what should I feed it?” is: nothing. Wildlife experts agree that you should not give a baby bird any food or water unless a licensed wildlife rehabilitator tells you to.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the RSPB, a UK bird charity, both give this advice. Wild baby birds need very special diets and care, and the wrong food can hurt them.
Most baby birds you find do not need rescuing at all. This guide explains how to tell whether a bird needs help, what parent birds really feed their chicks and who to call. Always ask an adult to help you.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| A feathered chick hopping on the ground | leave it alone; its parents are nearby |
| A chick with few or no feathers on the ground | ask an adult to put it back in its nest |
| A bird that is hurt, bleeding or caught by a cat | ask an adult to call a wildlife rehabilitator |
| Any baby bird | do not give it food or water |
Nestling or fledgling?
The first step is to work out what kind of baby bird you have found. There are two main stages.
A nestling has no feathers or only a few, and its eyes may still be closed. The RSPCA says it cannot survive for long outside its nest.
A fledgling has most or all of its feathers and can hop and flutter. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says fledglings leave the nest before they can fly well, so it is normal to see one on the ground.
Why fledglings sit on the ground
A fledgling on the ground is usually not lost. It is learning to fly. The WDFW says fledglings spend a few days hopping on the ground and on low branches before they can fly properly. The RSPB says this stage can last one to two weeks while their flight feathers grow.
Its parents have not gone anywhere. The RSPB and the RSPCA say the parents are nearby and still feeding it. When the fledgling calls, they answer by bringing food.
The RSPB points out that birds take far better care of their young than people can.
What parent birds feed their chicks
So what do baby birds eat in the wild? The Merck Veterinary Manual says almost all North American songbirds feed their chicks insects and other small animals. That includes birds that mostly eat seeds or plants when they are grown up.
Some birds, such as doves and pigeons, bring up part-digested food for their chicks. Others put whole prey straight into their chick’s open mouth.
Chicks eat a huge amount. The National Audubon Society says one family of five chickadee chicks needs about 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars before they leave the nest.
That is because growing chicks need lots of protein. Audubon says that in the breeding season, insects and caterpillars can make up to 90% of some chickadees’ diet.
Feeding all day long
Parent birds are incredibly busy. The WDFW says nestlings need feeding every 15 to 20 minutes, from sunrise until about 10 at night.
The Merck Veterinary Manual says nestlings need feeding for about 12 to 14 hours a day. No person could keep that up, which is one reason chicks do best with their own parents.
Hungry nestlings open their beaks wide to beg, like the chick in this picture. Their parents know just what to bring.
Why you should not feed a baby bird
It can seem kind to give a hungry-looking chick some food. But the Merck Veterinary Manual says many common foods are harmful to baby birds.
Milk and bread are both harmful. So are hamburger meat, condensed milk, soaked dog food and uncooked rice, Merck says.
Even the right food can be dangerous if it is given the wrong way. Merck warns that a chick fed too much can bring food back up, breathe it into its lungs and develop a serious lung infection called pneumonia.
The wrong diet causes problems over time too. Merck says growing chicks that do not get enough calcium quickly develop weak, soft bones.
Water is not safe either. The WDFW says not to give a baby bird food or water, so never drip water into a chick’s beak.
When to leave it alone
In most cases, the best way to help a baby bird is to leave it alone. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the RSPB both give this advice for healthy fledglings.
Parent birds will not come down to feed their chick while people are close by. The WDFW says the best thing to do is move well away and watch from a distance. Watching from indoors is ideal.
The WDFW also says to keep cats, dogs and curious children away, so the parents can get to their chick.
If a fledgling is in real danger, such as on a road, an adult can move it a very short distance. The RSPCA says no more than a few metres, to somewhere sheltered like under a hedge. It should stay within earshot of where it was found, because the parents find their chick by its calls.
Putting a nestling back
A nestling on the ground is different, because it cannot survive long outside its nest. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says that if it is not hurt and the nest can be found, the best thing is to put it back.
If the nest has been destroyed, an adult can make a new one. The RSPCA and the WDFW say a small basket, a margarine tub or a plant pot with drainage holes will work.
Line it with dry grass or twigs, and fix it in a shady spot in a tree or bush, as close as possible to where the old nest was.
Do not worry about touching the chick. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says parent birds do not abandon a chick because a human touched it. Your scent will not put them off.
How long to watch
After putting a chick back, or finding a fledgling, watch from far away to see whether the parents come. Experts give different times for different situations.
The RSPCA says to watch for more than two hours before deciding that a fledgling has been orphaned. The safest plan is to watch with an adult, and to phone a wildlife rehabilitator for advice if you are unsure.
When a baby bird really needs help
Some baby birds do need help. The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the WDFW say to get help if a bird is hurt or bleeding, has a drooping wing, is shivering or very sleepy, or has been caught by a cat or dog. You should also get help if a parent bird has been found dead nearby.
The RSPCA says taking a baby bird indoors should only ever be a last resort. It should be done by an adult, followed straight away by a call to a rehabilitator.
Safety first: the RSPCA warns not to touch sick or dead wild birds, because of bird flu. If you do touch one, wash your hands well.
Calling a wildlife rehabilitator
A wildlife rehabilitator is a trained expert who cares for sick, hurt and orphaned wild animals until they can go back to the wild. They have the right food, equipment and skills.
In the United States, the US Fish and Wildlife Service says to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator near you and call them before taking an animal in.
In the UK, the RSPB says it does not run rescue centres. Instead, it suggests contacting a local wildlife rescue or a vet, and says many vets give free emergency first aid to wildlife.
The RSPB lists these helplines: the RSPCA in England and Wales on 0300 1234 999, the SSPCA in Scotland on 03000 999 999, and the USPCA in Northern Ireland on 028 3025 1000.
Why you cannot keep it
It might be tempting to raise a baby bird yourself, but experts say never to try. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says that in the United States, you need special permits to care for a wild bird.
The Merck Veterinary Manual says permits are needed to care for most wild species, even for vets. In Washington State, the WDFW says, it is against the law to take a native bird from the wild.
Helping birds in your garden
You can help baby birds without ever touching one. Audubon says native trees, such as oaks, cherries, elms and maples, host far more caterpillars than plants brought in from other parts of the world. That means more food for chicks.
Researchers often found 20 or more caterpillars in five minutes on native trees, Audubon says, compared with one or fewer on introduced plants.
Keeping pets away from fledglings in spring and summer helps too. Learn about one common garden bird in our guide to how long sparrows live.
Three things people get wrong
A baby bird on the ground is usually not abandoned. Most are fledglings with parents close by.
Parents will not reject a chick you touched. Your scent does not put them off.
Bread and milk are not good for baby birds. Both are harmful.
Did you know? Nestlings need feeding every 15 to 20 minutes, from sunrise until about 10 at night.
Try it
With an adult, watch the birds in your garden or park from a window. Can you spot a parent bird carrying food to its young?
Knowledge check
What should you feed a baby bird you find?
Show answer
Nothing, unless a wildlife rehabilitator says so.
What is a fledgling?
Show answer
A young bird with most of its feathers that has left the nest but cannot fly well yet.
Frequently asked questions
What should I feed a baby bird?
Nothing. Experts say not to give a baby bird food or water unless a licensed wildlife rehabilitator tells you to.
Is it OK to give a baby bird bread or milk?
No. The Merck Veterinary Manual says bread and milk are both harmful to baby birds.
What do baby birds eat in the wild?
Most songbird chicks eat insects and other small animals brought by their parents, even if the adults mostly eat seeds.
Will a mother bird reject a baby that has been touched?
No. The US Fish and Wildlife Service says parent birds do not abandon a chick because a human touched it.
What should I do if I find a baby bird on the ground?
If it has feathers and can hop, leave it alone and watch from a distance. If it has few feathers, an adult can put it back in its nest.
When should I call for help?
If the bird is hurt, bleeding, shivering, caught by a cat or dog, or its parents have not come back, ask an adult to call a wildlife rehabilitator.
Sources
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: what to do if you find a baby bird — nestlings and fledglings, re-nesting, the scent myth, signs of injury, permits and finding a rehabilitator
- RSPCA: baby birds — nestlings, moving a fledgling, replacement nests, how long to watch, last resorts and bird flu
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: baby birds — fledgling days on the ground, feeding frequency, no food or water, pets, makeshift nests and the law
- RSPB: if you find an injured bird — fledglings on the ground, parents nearby, no food or water and who to call in the UK
- Merck Veterinary Manual: care of orphaned native birds — what parent birds feed, harmful foods, overfeeding, soft bones, feeding hours and permits
- National Audubon Society: native plants offer more bugs for birds — caterpillars needed by chickadee chicks and native trees
