What bird is this???

Question

We found and rescued this bird and it's the size of a finch but it kind of has colors like a racoon. Grey on it's back,white on it's stomach and black on it's tail. he has two black stripes on his head with a little white stripe in between them. He has a a small,sharp black beak. He's about 4 inches long including his tail. Is he a wild bird? Or is he an escaped pet? Please help.

This bird's mother was killed,we think it's a baby. It has all it's feathers. We live in chicago.

We think it's more in the wild breeds,not domestic.

Answer 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet?

http://www.westol.com/~banding/GCKI_HYF_092905.JPG

Black-capped Chickadee?

http://www.birdhousesbymark.com/images/chickadee.jpg

Whatever it is, either take it to a rehabber or let it go. You won't be able to take care of it yourself.

Good luck.

Answer 2

It sounds like a Mountain Chickadee, which is resident from interior British Columbia south through Rocky Mountain and Cascade-Sierra chains to southern California and western Texas.
You can see it here: http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?source=&parkid=&searchText=&allSpecies=&shapeID=961&lshapeID=0&curAbbr=&lastView=default&lastGroup=1&lastRegion=&lastFilter=4&lastShapeName=&trackType=&curRegionID=&size=467&habitat=&fruit=&color=872%2C+871%2C+870&sortBy=family&curFamilyID=®ionSelect=All+regions®ionZIP=&curGroupID=1&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=20

You say you found it and rescued it. Rescued it from what? If this is a wild bird, and it is injured, you need to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. You can find one here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm

These people have the specialized training to care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. They also have the required state and federal licenses that allow them to keep these wild animals until they are healthy enough to be released back into the wild.

In the US, all native migratory birds are protected under federal law (the Migratory Bird Treaty Act). It is illegal to keep any such protected bird, even if you are rescuing it, unless you have the appropriate licenses. That is why you need to contact a wildlife rehabber right away. They have the required licenses, and they will know what diet and care is best for the bird. Also, they will see to any veterinary care it requires.

Answer 3

It might help if you gave a general geographic area to narrow down the possibilities. You can do this by using an icon inder the question to "add details".

If you're in the US, you might also try this website: http://www.enature.com/home/ enter your zipcode and you'll be take to a page with the wildlife in your area.

Some possibilities (for natives):
golden-crowned kinglet
blackpoll warbler

ADDITION: At this time of year, the babies will be about the same size as adults for the smaller wild species and should be on their own (not needing the mother's care), so consider your bird at least close to the adult size when trying to identify it. If you could post a digital photo that would be of great help to identify what you have. If you're not sure how to do this, you can email me through the link in my profile.

Answer 4

It sounds like a chickadee, a wild bird. But to be sure, try looking up different bird breeds on the internet (wild breeds) and domestic. Or take a few pics of it and go to the library and see what you can come up with in their bird books or take it to the nearest pet store but do it soon because winter will be here and if it is a chickadee he needs time to adjust!!

Answer 5

Along with a guess of Chickadee, also wanted to add that it might be a White-crowned Sparrow.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dwhite%2520crowned%2520sparrow%26fr2%3Dtab-web%26fr%3Dush-ans&w=500&h=417&imgurl=static.flickr.com%2F131%2F352279625_7e11c519d9_m.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F95942053%40N00%2F352279625%2F&size=161.8kB&name=352279625_7e11c519d9.jpg&p=white+crowned+sparrow&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=7,254&oid=41df6adf98070cb0&fusr=4D7&tit=White-crowned+Sparrow%3B+Zonotrichia+leucophrys&hurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2F95942053%40N00%2F&ei=UTF-8&src=p

Answer 6

give us a pic!