Help - what this is? - urgent

[Jiggs]

I found a small garden bird with no parents in sight and am trying to determine the type as to research its food types.

It cannot fly but its wings are nearly developed so I should be able to help it.

Could someone point me in the right direction

Please veiw. I have seen them before with a large crown.

Or with a site to find bird types as to know how to feed.

http://photobucket.com/albums/f325/JiggsJiggs/


Scroll down to bottom please

[Jiggs]

Sorry wrong place - maybe one of the moderators could move it to bird emergencies.

[Reti]

Hi Jiggs,
I don't know what kind of bird this is, some type of songbird is my guess.
I guess he would appreciate some bugs, you could get them from a pet store, you can also offer him some wild bird seeds, if hungry he will eat them.
I will move your thread to the bird emergencies section. Hope you get more help soon.

Reti

[Jiggs]

Thanks - have out water, and wild bird seed, I was wondering if it would need insects....

I seem to have found it, a speckled mousebird

http://members.aol.com/Turacocrzy/mo...ndraising.html

or very close at least

[Reti]

Great find, Jiggs.
Are you keeping him?

Reti

[Jiggs]

Well, I went to the shop and got baby food (fruit) and pro-nutro and mixed as the article says. It ate but still seems lethargic so will have to monitor.

It wants nothing to do with seeds.

As to the keeping I will have to see as I have seen these around the garden but not frequently and if I cannot release it with these I read that they are comunal birds so will it survive on its own - I am not sure.

I sure aint going to show it how to catch bugs

check here after eating bit of a mess though, it has lice too so treated it but only slighty as scared to put chemicals on it now

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...s/DSC01739.jpg


I gave it a quick feed again (scared of giving it too much after going without food for a while) seems better as it reached up to the syringe. I have checked again and pretty sure it is a mousebird.

Does anybody know why they are called mousebirds?? I see there inthe states they raise them as pets although here they are wild and I have never seen them as a pet. The mousebird still puzzles me though! I will have to search some more.

If anybody has any interesting links regarding these or anything close please post so I can stock up on some knowledge here.

[Jiggs]

I found the answer - interesting!!!

Quote "Mousebirds are also called colies. There are six different species of mousebirds, and all of them live in Africa. They measure no more than 14 inches long, with their tails making up two-thirds of their body length. Mousebirds have dull feathers in brown or gray. Although they can fly, they prefer running or hopping around. As they move swiftly through open woodlands or scrubby savannahs, their long tails and feather coats often make us mistake them as rodents. Hence, they get this rather unpleasant name. Mousebirds feed on fruits, seeds, nectar, and leaves. With the assistance of their versatile toes, mousebirds are superb acrobats capable of getting food in any position" Unquote

[Trees Gray]

Thank you for rescuing this little cutie and doing all the homework in identifying him and what to feed him.

I'm so glad you solved the puzzle as to what type of bird this is. He is a darling little guy, and I'm sure you are caring well for him.

Can you locate a bird rehabber where you live, someone who is knowledgable about this little guy, and just have them check him over and make sure he is feeling well?

[Jiggs]

Treesa, that is one of the problems here. With the exeption of racing pigeons and the occasional parrot or two there are no bird sanctuaries or bird people close to where I live.

I started with pigeons (who are still my favourites) but some people think that because I have a basic understanding of them I can help with anything. Well I cannot turn them away so try as best I can

That is how I have sort of become a "bird" person in the surrounding area, but I have to get most of my info from the net. And here of course!!!!

When I say I found a bird it probably means someone brought it to me

And that is why you guys havent heard the last of me yet

[Maggie-NC]

Hi Jiggs I am not familiar with this species of bird but he sure is a cutie. His beak is shaped like seed eaters, like finches are here.

Just a couple of suggestions. To help keep him from aspirating any of the formula you may want to consider soaking either dog or cat food pellets. If he is gaping for you, you can pop these in his mouth pretty easily. He looks like he is almost to the age that he will soon be feeding himself. Also, I give all the songbirds fruit. You can cut up grapes and pop them in him also. The fruit will help him from getting metabolic bone disease which can cripple them. I usually alternate with a soaked pellet, then grape, etc. with each feed. (But, no avacados.) Keep seed available all the time in his box. He may be too young to know what they are.

If you have a 1 ml diabetic syringe (minus needle of course) you can use that to draw up the formula you've made, insert the syringe end past his air hole and put little "squirts" down him. Most songbirds have a crop that is located on the side of their neck. You can actually see it expand with food, particularly a young bird. Since he has a lot of feathers you may have some difficulty seeing it but just don't let it get too much in it between feedings. I would give him maybe a full (1 ml) syringe at each, say, 1 1/2 hour feedings. Don't give him any water now because he will get all he needs through the formula or soaked pellets and fruit.

If you do get any mealworms just take scissors and cut their heads off because they can still bite when he swallows them and he needs to acquire his "kill the worm" skills. I have found that drowning the worms does not work. They do come back to life.

Maggie

[Jiggs]

Great thanks, will try tommorow as soon as his strength is up from the fruit baby food and pro-nutro. Hope all goes well. Seems so will keep you posted.

He seems at least large enough to walk but does not - I think a bit of dehydration has set in - but after his third feeding just now he did let out a very runny poop (almost water) so hopefully the liquid is getting througha nd the critter is absorbing some nutrients.

I am hoping to start him off on fresh fruit as soon as possible as that is what I can gather is the main source of food, I am sure I saw the pet shop advertising worms, crickets etc the other day - will have a look on Monday morning.

[pigeonmama]

Jiggs,
If you do feed mealworms, please be sure to pinch the worms' heads off before feeding. Some of those big mealworms can cause damage to a bird's digestive system by chewing, if this isn't done.
Daryl

[Pigeonpal2002]

Hi Jiggs,

What a cute little bird, it almost looks like an immature cardinal that we have here in North America

Best of luck with getting this little one fixed up

[Reti]

You're doing great with this guy, Jiggs.
Great info you got there too.
Good luck with this little one.

Reti

[pdpbison]

Hi Jiggs,

Wow, what a curious little Bird...!


I think, unless you find info stating these 'Mousebirds' are Omnivores, please consider to refrain from dead-meat things, or fresh Insects, Worms, dry dog or cat food, and so on.

Instead, seek out ripe Fruits, Berries, or other Fruiting Bodys of plants, small tender shoots, or specifically those which possibly you may find mentions of in the Natural History of these kinds of Birds, and cut into tiny bits, even mashing each tiny bit before feeding.

Tiny-bits may also be set into a little cup or bowl where you drip a little Olive Oil, and add some gentle Vitamines-Minerals and swish the tiny bits around to get these items on them before feeding.

Too, do not try and give any Water or other liquids, as this Bird is almost certainly intended by design to obtain their hydration only from the moisture in it's foods.

Keep him warm if need be...and out of any drafts of course...

Does he gape and peep to ask for food?


Quite a little cutie!

I just went and looked into the link -

http://members.aol.com/Turacocrzy/mo...ndraising.html


Seems like it has some very good info...be sure to particularly stimulate your little one for it's pooping times!

Did not find anything yet as for what-to-feed...what they eat...ut...

Remember, these Birds do not have Crops like our Pidgeons do, and must be fed smaller meals and more often...

Have fun..!

Phil
Las Vegas