help! found a bird that can't fly?

Question

I found a pine grosbeak on the ground two days ago, I think it flew into the window but I don't for sure. Its in a small bird cage right now with a thin blanket over the cage and it has been eating and drinking. It looks healthy and its wings are not broken and its not missing any wing feathers but it won' t fly. Does any one know why it can’t fly and if the same problem has ever happened to you? What did you do, and what can I do about the bird. (I don't want to kill it)

Answer 1

Be careful, many very contagious bird illnesses manifested with symptoms of non-flight; such as New Castles, West Nile and parasites. Do not bring them in the house, especially if you raise domestic birds.. It could have an infection and respond to antibiotics, or be malnourished. Find a bird rescue or an Avian vet in the area.

Avian Vet Locator
http://aav.org/vet-lookup/

Bird Rescue Locator
http://www.parrotchronicles.com/departments/birdclubs.htm

In regards to the lady below I wasn't saying the bird would be a danger to him but if he had domestic birds and the bird was brought into the house they could be infected. If you note I never said the bird was a danger to himself.

I live in Southern California where they was major outbreak of West Nile in wild and domestic birds. Special precautions were taken with the breeders and pet store as well as Avian Vets. I don't just talk out the side of my mouth. So don't tell people not to listen to me. I don't answer post if I don't think I have information to share. People's experiences are different and they are all important.

There have been many reported cases of West Nile in the blackheaded grosbeak.

Answer 2

I have been volunteering with a local wildlife center for 14 years and I raise and rehabilitate many species of birds.

Even though the pine grosbeak is eating and drinking, it is still possible that it could have fractured its wing, pulled a muscle or tendon. This will cause it not to want to fly. If you feel under this birds wings and find a swollen area that is most likely what happened. The same goes for the temperature...does one wing feel a lot warmer to the touch under neath it than the other one?

Another possibility is that this bird could have flown into something and it could have head trauma (swelling of the brain). If you have experienced a severe headache, then that's what this bird is feeling. If it is a head trauma, this bird needs to be on medicine to reduce the swelling inside the head.

My state also has reported cases of west nile virus in some birds. Not every bird will get that virus. It depends if the bird has been bitten by the affected mosquito.

You need to go to the msn or google search and type in the following, Wildlife rehabilitation centers in (YOUR STATE NAME).
You will get a list of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers with their phone numbers and location. Call them and get this bird to them as they are experts on rehabilitating injured or sick birds. The wildlife centers have vets that can examine these birds. It sounds like the bird needs to be on Dex to bring down the swelling or possible swelling in its head and if it has swelling inside the wing, it will also help reduce it.

Always remember, in most states if you find an injured, orphaned or sick wild animal, it must be taken to the nearest wildlife center. These centers have state and federal permits to take in these animals for rehabilitation or finish raising the orphaned babies. It is illegal for anyone to keep a wild animal and try to take care of it unless they are on the list as a volunteer with a local wildlife center.

Hope this helps :-)

Answer 3

There are usually State wildlife refuges in most states you can probably look online and find out where they are and call them. We have some people here on Galveston that operate their own refuges and you can call them and they will tell you what to do for the bird and also if they can take the bird or not.

A Pine Grosbeak is a fairly rare bird

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/PINGRO/

Here is Avain Web and it may help you

http://www.avianweb.com/incubationtanagers.html

Answer 4

I ran my my Mustang into a bridge abutment once, I didn't fly for about 3 months. Your bird is probably still in shock from ramming its head into the wall or window. Don't be too upset if it does not live. That is a common occurrence. They make mistakes just like people do. If it lives for a while in captive Groose beaks like black sunflower seeds the small type black oil sunflower seed and little bit of tiny gravel, they use gravel to digest their food, a tiny bit of salt and plenty of water. If it's going to live that will keep it pretty happy. Pretty soon just open the cage outside and allow it to go if it wants to. Who knows it may think you are its new friend and want to stay the winter! Good luck

Answer 5

properly as quickly as and that i on a similar time as we get a chook that hits one in all our living house windows,( see we live in the country). and if it isnt ineffective, he in many circumstances positioned it in a container, and cover the container with a towel, and then positioned it in a curtain place, ( like a shed or at the back of a tree, the place somthing of somebody wont harm it) and then bypass away it there and anticipate an hour or 2, and then we verify on it agian, wew dont in many circumstances call the vet, becasue "face it" they cant do something to help it relatively! as quickly as we verify the chook, somtimes that's healed and in a position to hop around and somtimes fly!!!!!! so that's recommended to aim that, in case you have chose!!!!! - Jonathan taylor thomas fan ( whats up i belive that lady now, you have a element that a 23 300 and sixty 5 days old lady woulndt lie approximately that variety of ingredient, so specific you're making me a beliver!!! thank you!!!!! and im so exited 4 her to, i contemplate whether she would be in a position to place up any new archives????)

Answer 6

Unfortunately, even though our little hearts don't want it to happen... You have to let the bird go and let life run it's course. I used to work at a vet clinic and they always said they hated it when people would bring injured wild animals in for care. They usually die and there's not a lot you can do for a wild animal. They actually advice you to leave the animal where you found it and to just let nature run it's course. This is what you'll have to do now, let nature run its course and let the bird go back where you found it. Death isn't something you can always prevent. I'm sorry...

Answer 7

The bird wings could be weak. The bird could be healthy too.

Answer 8

put a little spaceman suit on it and call it an outer space pine grosbeak

Answer 9

You need to take the bird to a wildlife/avian rehab in your area. It is illegal for you to even be in possession of this bird...let alone kill it! They will be able to assess it and hopefully release it back into the wild. Don't listen to the woman talking about New Castles, this affects waterfowl and exotic birds (parrots and such), don't think this bird is harmful to you at all.

Answer 10

the wings may not be broken but it may have internal problems caused by the hit not allowing it to fly glad to help: )