Finding a baby bird is common, especially during warmer months. These vulnerable creatures often prompt a desire to help. Understanding their unique dietary needs and how to provide appropriate temporary care is important for their survival.
Natural Diet of Baby Birds
In their natural environment, most baby birds rely heavily on insects. Parent birds deliver a variety of soft-bodied invertebrates like caterpillars, worms, and spiders. This diet provides the high levels of protein, fats, and nutrients necessary for their rapid growth and feather development. Parent birds often partially digest food to soften it, making it easier for their young to swallow. Even adult birds that primarily eat seeds switch to feeding their young insects during this crucial growth period. As baby birds mature, their diet may gradually diversify to include seeds or fruits, depending on the species.
Safe Temporary Foods for Baby Birds
If you find a baby bird that needs intervention and cannot immediately reach a wildlife rehabilitator, certain temporary foods can be offered. Moistened, low-fat, dye-free dog or cat kibble is a recommended emergency option due to its high protein. To prepare, soak dry kibble in warm water until spongy, then break into small, manageable pieces. The consistency should be a mush or paste, not too watery, to prevent aspiration.
Cooked hard-boiled egg yolk, mashed finely, is another suitable temporary food, providing protein and fats. High-protein baby food (meat-based, without additives) or specialized bird formula are also options. Use blunt tweezers or a small syringe without a needle to gently offer food, placing it at the back of the bird’s mouth. Avoid force-feeding and ensure the bird swallows each piece before offering another. Baby birds typically need frequent feedings during daylight hours, often every 20-30 minutes for very young nestlings.
Foods to Never Give a Baby Bird
Many common human foods are harmful to baby birds and should never be offered:
Bread: Provides minimal nutritional value and can cause digestive issues.
Milk and dairy products: Birds cannot digest lactose, leading to indigestion and diarrhea.
Seeds: Too hard for young birds to digest, posing a choking hazard or causing nutritional deficiencies.
Worms collected from gardens: Can carry parasites.
Processed foods, sugary items, salt, chocolate, or artificial ingredients: These are toxic. Salt can disrupt a bird’s electrolyte balance and lead to dehydration.
Avocado, onions, garlic, and fruit pits or seeds: These are toxic (pits/seeds contain cyanide compounds).
Raw meat: Can spoil quickly and harbor bacteria.
When to Contact a Wildlife Rehabilitator
The best course of action for a found baby bird is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. These professionals provide proper care, including species-specific diets, medical treatment, and eventual release back into the wild. Attempting to raise a wild baby bird without expert guidance often results in improper development and suffering.
You can locate a local wildlife rehabilitator by searching online for “wildlife rehabilitation” in your state or area. Organizations like the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association or Animal Help Now also offer directories. While waiting for a rehabilitator to respond, keep the bird warm in a quiet, dark, and secure container, such as a cardboard box, with a heat source like a warm water bottle or rice sock. Minimize handling and avoid offering any food or water unless specifically advised by a rehabilitator.