How can I tell if this altricial baby needs help?

Most of the calls we get about baby birds at Toronto Wildlife Centre are about some species of baby songbird. The following guidelines are for birds that fall into this category—most commonly House Sparrows, House Finches, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Common Grackles and European Starlings. All of these species have triangular beaks, will “gape” their mouths early in their development and are, even in the later stages of their development, no bigger than a tennis ball.

NOTE: Some altricial birds have different nesting behaviours and different parental care than the songbirds listed above. Call Toronto Wildlife Centre at (416) 631-0662 for further advice if you suspect you have found an altricial baby bird that is:

a) a baby dove

b) a baby heron or gull

nestling Great black-Backed gull	nestling great blue heron
fledgling gull	fledgling green heron

c) a baby bird of prey

nestling owl	fledgling great horned owl

 

If you think you have found one of the babies described above, please call the centre for further advice if you are within the Greater Toronto Area (which includes the City of Toronto as well as cities and towns in the regions of Peel, Halton, York, and Durham). If you are calling from outside these areas, click here.

If you have found an altricial baby that does not match the description above, it is most likely some kind of songbird. Due to the overwhelming volume of calls we that we receive at Toronto Wildlife Centre during the spring and summer months, at this time we cannot respond to calls about baby songbirds. However, many baby birds believed to be orphaned have just become separated from their parents – and sometimes you can help! Please read through the rest of the information on this page to determine whether the baby you have found requires care from a rehabilitator.

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between a baby and adult bird. If you are not sure, please click this link:

Is it a Baby or an Adult Bird?

Baby birds can be found in a wide variety of circumstances, some of which are normal and others that may require intervention to help the baby. Before proceeding, check the baby for signs of illness or injury.

Now, please click the link that most closely matches the situation you have encountered:

…I’ve found some baby birds still in the nest but I think they are orphaned/the nest has been abandoned.

…I found some baby birds on the ground fallen from their nest.

How do I care for this altricial baby until I can get it to a wildlife rehabilitator?

...I have some baby birds that have been removed from their nest in a building.

…I found a baby bird on the ground that can’t fly

…I found a baby bird attacked by a cat / my cat brought home a baby bird

…I found a baby bird attacked by a dog / my dog brought home a baby bird

Tips for containing sick, injured, or orphaned baby birds

I’ve found an orphaned baby bird that I’d like to try raising. How should I care for it?