The baby needs help! What should I do?

Baby songbirds need specialized care to give them the best chances at survival in the wild. If the bird is precocial (e.g. ducklings or goslings), or is altricial but you suspect is not a songbird (e.g. doves or birds of prey), call Toronto Wildlife Centre for further advice at (416) 631-0662. See characteristics of altricial birds that are NOT songbirds here. TWC still has space for some of these baby birds that have less strict feeding regimes than songbirds.

Unfortunately, due to an overwhelming volume of calls and admissions, Toronto Wildlife Centre is not able to take calls about or admit any baby songbirds (except those from Pickering and Richmond Hill) until further notice. There are a few wildlife rehabilitators outside of the Toronto area that specialize in songbird care that may be able to admit the babies if they have room. Please note that most rehabilitators, including the ones listed below, do not have the resources to pick up animals. You will have to transport the baby to them if they are able to take it. These rehabilitators also operate solely on donations to provide care for wildlife, so please consider making a donation to help them continue their work.

Wildlife rehabilitators that may be able to help:

Wing and a Prayer (705) 385-1488
Located in the Muskokas, Wing and a Prayer specializes in birds and provides high quality rehabilitation services – if you have found a baby songbird in need of help, we encourage you to contact them and make arrangements to drive the baby there for help.

Other licensed wildlife rehabilitators that may be able to help:

OSPCA Midland (705) 534-4350
Located in Midland
Beacon of Light Wildlife Centre (905) 776-5510
Located in Nanticoke and accepting birds from Oakville and west of Oakville only
Erie Wildlife Rescue (519) 969-3919
Accepting animals from Essex county only
Windrush Veterinary Services (519) 449-5080
Located in the Brantford area
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre (613) 354-0264
Located in Napanee and accepting birds from east of Toronto
S.O.A.R. (519) 856-4510
(Songbirds only Avian Rehabilitation) Located in Rockwood and accepting birds from west of Toronto
Fur and Feather Wildlife Centre (519) 583-1756
Located in Port Dover

If bringing the bird to a rehabilitator is not an option or they are not able to admit the baby, contact your municipal animal services office to pick up the animal or deliver it to them for humane euthanasia. Please note that residents of Pickering and Richmond Hill should call Toronto Wildlife Centre, as your municipalities are providing TWC with some funding to help provide wildlife services.

I don’t want the baby to be humanely euthanized (put to sleep). How can I raise it myself?