How To Tell If A Bird Is Sick Or Injured

A bird’s natural instinct is to not show any sign of weakness, in order to help prevent it being targeted by predators. So it’s not always easy to tell if your pet bird or garden visitor is ill or not. By the time a bird begins to display symptoms of illness, it has likely been sick for several days to weeks. Therefore, its essential to recognise the subtle signs of illness before it is too late.

Here is a list of things to observe and consider to help you determine if they are poorly or not

Can you can see obvious bleeding or any open wounds
Does the bird move when you approach them – it’s normal for healthy adult birds to rest on the ground, but they should still try to walk or fly away if someone approaches them
The bird’s feathers look fluffed up, but remember they will also do this during cold weather to keep warm
Can the bird hold their head up straight and/or keep their balance properly, or their head and neck looks twisted
Look for swellings or crusty growths on the skin, often seen on the face, legs or feet
If a bird has been caught by a dog or cat, there’s a risk it could develop an infection. So, they always need to be taken for treatment, even if you can’t see any obvious wounds
Is the bird panting or breathing fast, and have you seen them doing this for at least two hours. Panting is a normal way for birds to cool down if they’re too hot, but it can be a sign of disease

For more details, pictures and symptoms you can refer to sources such as this one from The Garden Wildlife Health or you can find your local wildlife centre here for further support and advice.