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Sick, injured and baby birds
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Frequently asked questions

Found an injured bird?

The RSPCA (England and Wales), SSPCA (Scotland) and USPCA (Northern Ireland) are the national charities that help and advise on sick and injured birds and animals. The RSPB does not run bird hospitals or a rescue service.

I have an injured bird in my garden, what should I do?

For most injured birds, place them gently in a box and keep them quiet, dark and cool. It may be that the bird is in shock and will soon recover so you can let it go. If it is more seriously injured, this will reduce stress on the bird until you can get advice on how you can help it.

The RSPB does not have bird hospitals or a rescue service because we are a conservation charity. The RSPCA, your local vet or a local animal rescue centre, have the expertise to help and advise you about sick and injured birds and animals.

What should I do with a baby bird that has been abandoned by its parents?

Probably nothing. A young bird alone on the ground has not necessarily been abandoned. The young of many birds will fledge after they grow feathers, but before they are able to fly. 

They spend a day or two on the ground before their feather development is complete. It is really best not to interfere. The parents will be close by and come to feed the bird as soon as it is safe.  

If the bird is in a vulnerable position it will do no harm to move it into shelter but not too far away as the parents will then be unable to find it. Touching a bird will not make the parents abandon it.

Watch carefully - if the parents don’t return and the youngster has definitely been abandoned then please email Wildlife Enquiries using the address on this page for further advice.

Why do some birds in my garden have growths on their feet?

Birds that have growths on their legs are usually suffering from a disease. Avian pox can cause deformed feet in house sparrows, starlings and pigeons. Chaffinches can develop tumours caused by a viral infection.

Bumblefoot, which affects large birds, is caused when cuts become infected and often makes it difficult for birds to perch or walk. 

Should I feed a baby bird bread and milk?

No. These are not suitable foods for young birds most of which will be fed on soft insects, worms and grubs in their early days. Scrambled egg, with a little moist cereal, is fine to begin with but more suitable food, for both seed and insect eating birds, is available from pet shops.

If I touch a baby bird will the parents abandon it?

No, birds have little or no sense of smell, but do keep contact to a minimum. It is often easier to pick a bird up by gently covering it with a cloth first.

I have found several dead birds in my garden. Is there something wrong with the food I am supplying?

Not necessarily. There are many causes of birds dying, the most usual being an outbreak of an infectious disease, such as salmonella. If you clean your feeders and birdtables regularly you will help prevent infections from spreading.

If this problem persists, please contact our Wildlife Enquiries team for further advice. 

Why are the collared doves in my garden dying?

Sadly, collared doves are one of the main sufferers of a disease called trichomoniasis (canker). It affects the upper digestive tract causing lesions in the birds’ throats making it difficult to feed and eventually to breathe. 

The infected bird may die of starvation or possibly choking. It is not caused by anything that you have done. 

However, you can help to prevent it from spreading. The best course of action is to stop feeding for at least a month. Sweep up and dispose of any left over food and, if possible disinfect all feeding areas. 

In summer, natural food is plentiful so the birds will not suffer.  Your feeding area ought to be free of any infection by the time the birds return, in search of food, at the onset of cooler weather. 

In winter, place food in hanging feeders only. Sweep up any that falls to the ground each day, to prevent the spread of disease.

My cat keeps catching wild birds - what can I do to stop this happening?

Giving your cat a collar fitted with a bell or a sonar device will reduce the number of birds it catches.  You can buy collars that are fitted with a quick release mechanism that is safer for your cat. Keeping your cat indoors at dusk and dawn, when birds are most vulnerable, will also help. 

If you keep your cat well fed, they are less likely to hunt and are more likely to stay close to home which may curb their hunting instincts.  

How can I stop birds flying into my windows?

You can fix something to the outside of your windows to stop birds from flying into them. Birds fly into windows because the reflections confuse them. Some see the reflection of trees and the sky and don’t realise it is glass. By fixing something to the window you will reduce the reflection and birds are less likely to be confused.

Plastic stickers work well - RSPB reserve shops sell stickers in the shape of bird silhouettes, which are ideal.  

Can fireworks be harmful to wild birds?

There is little evidence to suggest that fireworks harm wild birds or affect their conservation status. However, the RSPB is working closely with the RSPCA and the National Campaign for Firework Safety to reduce the negative impacts of fireworks on people and animals.

We particularly urge firework display organisers to avoid locating near to sensitive wildlife areas, such as nature reserves and roosting sites for wild birds.