Should a Bird Be Left on Its Back?

In the outdoors, especially in spring, it's not uncommon to find a baby bird lying on its back, alive. Often, such mishaps occur when a bird has tried to fly or has fallen from the nest. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help such birds in distress.

  1. Nestling vs. Fledgling

    • Nestlings are pink-skinned babies with no feathers. Because they cannot fly and need their mothers, they always should be returned to the nest. Fledglings, on the other hand, are juvenile birds that may be ready to leave the nest, but still lack good flying skills. They may have fallen out of the nest, the wind may have knocked them out, or they may have been attempting to fly and ended up on the ground.

    Common Myth

    • Many people believe baby birds that are touched by human hands will be forever neglected by their mothers. This is not true. Except for vultures, birds have poor senses of smell and the scent of your hands likely will not be detected by the mother. However, some birds can carry germs and diseases, so when you pick up a bird, never use your bare hands.

    How to Help a Nestling

    • If you find a live nestling on the ground on its back, place the bird in its nest and return the nest to the tree, putting it up high to keep it from prowling animals. If you can't find the nest, make one using a small plastic container. Punch holes in the bottom for drainage, add clean paper towels for warmth, and nail the container up in the tree, and finally place the bird inside.

    How to Help a Fledgling

    • If you find a fledgling on the ground, don't put the bird back in its nest. Fledglings may be trying to learn to fly, and chances are the mother is close by monitoring its progress. Should you move the bird, you might get dive-bombed by the mother, who is only trying to protect her young. Simply keep children and pets away from the fledgling, allowing it to develop its flying skills alone.

    Death

    • Finally, the other possibility of finding a bird lying on its back is that it might be dead. If it looks rigid or you see blood, it probably is dead and you can dispose of it by burial or in the garbage. Adult birds found lying on their backs most likely will be deceased. However, if the bird is still alive it may be injured and unable to stand or right itself. Contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator who can try to help the bird.