Starling, I think. Please send assistance

[DaviJones]

Found a baby bird while on a walk. I think it's a starling

How does he look? What is his diet, and would seeds and insects be okay? WholE insects and flax seeds, are what I currently have but willing to get anything else. I found a nest near where he fell but looks like the resident was a pigeon

I am I wrong, are they the same? I have a feeling he's here to stay as mom won't show me her nest. Anything I should know? I've only raised chicks before please help!
@casportpony

 

[casportpony]

Maybe get some Kaytee Exact baby bird food, crickets, and mealworms?

 

[DaviJones]

Maybe get some Kaytee Exact baby bird food, crickets, and mealworms?

Thanks, I'll check out petsmart for the KaytEE it sas they have it.

How and should I give him water? How frequently should he be fed/watered? Sorry, for the barrage, you've done baby birds before right? I thought I saw you in a thread about one once

 

[Fishkeeper]

Go look around where you found him, see if you can spot another nest. The one you found had a fledgeling in it, totally different species and age.
If you can't find the nest but you do find the parents, make a new nest. Line any type of basket (Easter, strawberry, etc) with soft grass, fasten it up high so predators can't reach, and put him in.
Baby birds are very hard to feed without choking when they're that young. Is there a wildlife rehabilitator in the area?

Edit: as long as it's vocal, the parents will find it. It's best to put it off the ground just in case of predators, but it may climb right back out. It's a bit young to be on the ground, but they all come out of the nest sooner or later to learn how to be birds, this one might be a bit early. Your best bet is to put it back and let the parents handle it.

 

[SueT]

Babies that big often end up out of nests. Parents know where they are and will feed them on the ground.
Starlings are an invasive species, here they are a nuisance. I don't know if a wildlife rescue would take it on.....

 

[Emmaxx]

Interested to see how this goes. I rescued a baby starling when I was little, can't really remember what we fed it and even if I could it probably wasn't the right thing, and one day it was ready to just fly away.

 

[Emmaxx]

http://www.starlingtalk.com/babycare.htm
this looks like it will answer all your questions

 

[SueT]

Here's a good article on why not to "rescue" a baby bird. As they say, "if you care, leave it there..."
https://www.quora.com/Why-shouldnt-you-touch-a-baby-bird

 

[DaviJones]

Okay, sorry for the long time without a reply.
Update:
Built a nest out of cardboard

>Went to tree and fastened nest on a branch with roofing tacks while in the tree (bit of a challenge)
>Placed him in the nest
>He called for his mom
>Mama watched disapprovingly from a branch 3 ft up as I got down
>While jogging away hear branches rustyle and scraping cardboard
>Yes

Really glad to say it resolved itself.
My apologies for picking him up, I'm used to the Summer where they usually die from dehydration under the same tree and its a bit horrifying. Thank you for the help! Really happy to see it work out!

 

[Fishkeeper]

Glad to hear it worked out! Don't worry about picking him up, you were trying to help and it shouldn't do any harm.
You might see him on the ground again, and fairly soon, once he grows more feathers. If you do, unless something is actively stalking him, let him alone. He'll run around on the ground being fed by the parents and learning how to be a functional bird. They're supposed to jump once they hit the awkward fledgeling stage (kinda like pullets- fully feathered but sorta awkward still), some jump early. That dove/pigeon you photographed is a good example of a fledgeling. It's a dangerous time for them, being on the ground and flightless, but it's vital to them learning how to be birds.
As a general rule, if the parents are around, they'll find the baby. Totally naked ones need a nest, partly feathered ones should probably be in a nest, fully feathered fledgelings should be left alone unless in immediate danger.

I once found three bluejays, all a bit younger than that one, in my yard. I put them in an Easter basket full of grass and hung it from a tree, with the parents screaming at me the entire time. The parents raised the babies in the basket like it was normal, and they screamed at everyone else, but they left me alone after I put the babies back. I think they recognized me and decided I was helpful. Folks, birds ain't stupid.