Baby bird that can't fly

[Sarah]

In the park today, this little bird flew/coasted but mostly crashed into a tree right next to me. The pigeons went after it and the crow were close behind. While I got rid of them, the bird managed about 20'. I wandered off for 30 minutes and he didn't move at all. I could get right next to him without him moving. Randy and I put a blanket over him and scoped him up, and he's here now in a box. The crows would have made short work of him.

Does he look old enough to eat on his own? What should I give him?
Does he look old enough to fly?
Should I try to locate a bird expert?

The first picture is a better representation of his coloring.

Thanks guys! :grouphug :grouphug :grouphug

[Mars]

It's fledgling. Were the parents not around?? He's about a week away from being independant. He needs a flight cage to practice flying and LOTS of meal worms and seed to practice self feeding. :)

[TexanSquirrel]

He's cute! Good luck with him!

[Sarah]

It's fledgling. Were the parents not around?? He's about a week away from being independant. He needs a flight cage to practice flying and LOTS of meal worms and seed to practice self feeding. :)

I wish... No parents around the whole 30 minutes. Lots of Pigeons and crows. He was sitting in the middle of the open park with an impending wave of children, groundskeepers, and a boot camp about to descend any minute. i wonder how long he'd been down.

He's eaten and drunk.

How big should a flight cage be?

Thanks Ladies!

[Mars]

Bigger the better. In a pinch you can use one of those cheap outdoor screened rooms or a tent. But the little one will have to be supervised as they are not secure from escapes or preditors and so should be brought in at night.

[tatcat]

hey sarah, that is a cute lil bird...

[Sarah]

For now he's in a regular cage that I can manage him in. He let me pick him up to move him. Something is wrong with his wing. He can move it but has a few gaps where he's missing feathers so I'm thinking he was injured.
He's not interested in the milworms smushed or whole, seeds, or other offerings. He'll nibble on peanut butter on the end of a tooth pick and will suck on apple juice mixed with peanut butter in a piepet. Any other goodies I can tempt him with?

[LynninIN]

Sarah, gently grasp the wing and pull outward to open the wing span to get a good look. It's scary to do at first, at least it was for me because I was afraid it would hurt the bird. Then I saw a rehabber do it and was totally in awe. All three birds I had last year had an injury at the very top part of the wing in the the clavicular (collar bone) area.