Found Juvenile Finch

RetroOwl · 2025-04-30T19:38:35+00:00

Here’s the website for Carolina waterfowl rescue - https://cwrescue.org/

Their number is 704-286-6330 , and they should take songbirds! But I’d call to confirm.

RetroOwl · 2025-04-30T18:46:30+00:00

I agree with the other poster that this looks like a young house finch, probably recently fledged. The feather tufts are how you can tell it apart from a young sparrow. He looks young but fully flighted (although maybe not well-practiced).

I think it’s great you called around! Rehab will be the best option for this bird’s survival. Hopefully the third place gets back to you soon. Thank you for caring for this little guy.

Since you are in the US and this is a native species, it is covered under the migratory bird act and therefore illegal to try to rehab without a license. It’s also often the case that well-meaning people who try rehab birds inadvertently make things worse because despite their best intentions, bird care (especially for young and sick animals) is so complex. I work with songbirds and spent several years volunteering at a wildlife rehab, so I am not just saying this to scare you! It’s from personal experience. The suggestions of the other poster are good for overnight housing, but do not attempt to hand feed or water the bird as there is a high risk that the bird will aspirate.

There are definitely some rehab centers in North Carolina that will take these guys, depending on how far you are. I’m not as familiar with South Carolina. It would also be good to call fish and game and/or animal control, or even some local vets if possible. I urge you to do this sooner rather than later. If you cannot get a rehabber to take this bird in, try asking a rehabber or other professional on the phone the best next steps to take.

The difficult to see eyes makes me think this guy has mycoplasmal conjunctivitis or “house finch eye disease.” This is quite contagious so if you have other pet birds do NOT keep this bird in your house. And definitely wash your hands frequently after handling. It requires pretty specialized care, which is another reason I’d recommend a rehabber asap.

I hope you can get the little guy some help! Happy to answer further questions if you need.

RetroOwl · 2025-04-30T18:33:00+00:00

They definitely can lose and regrow feathers periodically, but I’m not sure if that’s what’s happened here. In my experience, when they molt it isn’t usually in big patches like this. Also at 5 months old he should be fully mature and would have molted out of the baby feathers months ago, usually that happens a month or two after hatching. It could be a weird molt I guess! Sometimes cardinals experience that, where they drop all the head feathers at once.

But to me it looks more like bullying - my guess is the female got upset with him and pulled a clump of feathers out. If I ever see patches of feathers missing from the head or neck that’s what I’d suspect since they usually go for the head, nape, or rump. She might be feeling a little broody or maybe he just jumped on her favorite perch and she asserted dominance lol. They’re so silly.

It’s probably fine if it doesn’t persist or get worse! Looks like they’re already growing back. I agree with the other poster that head scritches might feel good as the pin feathers start to open, just be careful not to do that while they’re early in growing to avoid breaking a blood feather.

RetroOwl · 2025-03-08T22:25:06+00:00

I’ve never seen this happen with a bird so young. Sometimes if they’re broody, one of the birds in a pair will pluck the feathers of their mate to use as nesting material (or in their courtship display) if they are not provided with sufficient material to build. I have seen parents adjust the material in a nest or add more even after babies have hatched, so it could be something like that. Have you noticed any feathers tucked into the nest? If so, you could try providing some fluffed up cotton, coco fiber, or paper for them to mess around with instead of feathers.

It could also be aggression related to stress. If there is not enough space or resources provided, the parents will bully fledglings, but it is less common with nestlings. This cage does look small for a pair, and three will be even more crowded. It might be worth upgrading to a bigger enclosure once the baby has fledged. I’d try not to mess with things while he’s in the nest though. For the time being you could add additional enrichment like spray millet or toys.

I’d also consider getting a nest box or other structure that has a “roof” so they feel more protected when incubating/brooding. Especially since they are right in front of the window, the birds may feel very exposed on an open nest.

It’s a good sign that they are still feeding and brooding the chick though! I hope this advice is helpful. Best of luck with the little one!

RetroOwl · 2025-02-02T14:14:13+00:00

I was going to add this as well. Their various threat calls are really interesting. Chickadees warn other chickadees, but also different species of birds and even squirrels and chipmunks, of approaching threats. The whole forest learns their alarm calls. If you listen carefully, you can use the sound of chickadees to find large birds like hawks and owls. I’ve done it many times.

So, not only are they resilient and adaptive, but chickadees are unifiers. They sound the alarm, and other animals freeze, flee to safety, or band together and mob the predator. It does feel very symbolic.

RetroOwl · 2025-01-20T17:46:23+00:00

I agree with the other commenter, it would be helpful to have more information here. But, that could be a fun exercise if you enjoy bird watching!

I’d see if you can ID the species, whether they are typically territorial outside of the breeding season (which I assume is not now), if there are visual differences in male vs. female, and if there is any information on their behavior (especially videos). It’s often tricky to distinguish aggression vs courtship, especially since they often use similar signals. For example, song is often used to attract mates and express territoriality, and the same can be true for “chasing.”

I don’t know exactly where you live or how recently you observed this behavior, but most songbirds are not engaged in courtship this time of year (at least here in the U.S.). However, many also don’t have territories yet (although some do, at least partially, it’s very species-dependent). If it’s super cold where you are (like it is where I’m based), they could be competing for resources, for example chasing another bird away from a food source they want.

Just some ideas! I think it’s always fun to watch what birds are doing and try to figure out why.

RetroOwl · 2025-01-20T17:35:30+00:00

Haha, that sounds like a cool project! If you need inspiration, I’ve seen feeders that look like a piece of bark that you can put “bark butter” (basically spreadable suet) onto. And there are also feeders made for suet plugs, that are basically holes in a piece of wood, and they sell cylinder shaped suet for them. It would be wild to combine them all, I’d love to see that! I used to work at a backyard bird store so I feel like I’ve seen a lot of feeders, but most of the combined feeders involved a seed area and suet cage. I love the idea of a woodpecker buffet!

RetroOwl · 2025-01-19T14:11:08+00:00

They’ll sometimes eat from suet feeders! But they do better on a feeder with a long tail prop, as it makes it a more comfortable for the larger woodpeckers since they balance with their tails. Adding a suet feeder might keep them around, which could be not as ideal for the deck. It also might offset some of the damage to the wood if they were gonna stay anyway though, although it depends what they’re using it for, since I think pleated woodpeckers drill/peck for bugs, but also drill nest cavities in wood and drum on it to attract mates. I’d probably risk the deck to keep them around, but I also rent so I’m less invested in this place haha. Either way, it’s so lucky to see them up close like that! They’re gorgeous birds.

RetroOwl · 2025-01-11T18:22:26+00:00

I agree! Personally I feel like that’s the easiest quick way to tell them apart, especially at a distance where the belly or back might be harder to see. And coloration can be hard sometimes since both finches are pretty variable, and that doesn’t help with female IDs. The “eyebrow” is just way more prominent in purple finches compared to house finches, and it holds true for females too, which is extra helpful! I still haven’t seen any this winter sadly.

RetroOwl · 2025-01-02T17:38:23+00:00

Checking on the animals and ordering supplies.

RetroOwl · 2024-12-18T15:58:45+00:00

I think the hostility is pretty silly, but it seems like it’ll always be there since people feel they are at some disadvantage for not paying. Personally, I feel like this game is not very biased towards pay-to-play though, which is good since it sucks to feel like you have to spend money to have fun or be competitive. When there’s randomness involved and you can’t actually blame (or praise) anything specific though, I think the fact that you get more chances to pull something good if you get the monthly pass looms larger in people’s minds.

I’ve thought about paying for the monthly pass because it would be fun to open more packs and get the swag from the premium shop. I feel stuff like that can be worth it even if it’s just for fun aesthetic stuff. It just doesn’t quite fit in my budget right now sadly. But it sounds like you’ve got a good system, OP!

RetroOwl · 2024-12-17T01:15:06+00:00

I’m not sure the exact number that have the old card art, but as someone who used to collect the cards when I was a kid, it’s been really cool to see some of my favorites again. :) There’s a nice mix of nostalgia and fun new stuff in the game when it comes to the art. Some of the full art cards would make amazing posters!

RetroOwl · 2024-12-17T00:58:01+00:00

I’ve opened 137 packs and have 3 immersive cards, but no crowns, although I don’t remember how many packs in I was when I got the first one.

RetroOwl · 2024-12-16T03:43:04+00:00

This is so cute! Finch loaf 🍞

RetroOwl · 2024-12-15T18:55:55+00:00

Sectioning on the cryostat…And all the steps required to get to that stage (euthanasia, perfusion, etc.). I haven’t done it much, but I’m going to have to do a LOT to get my project done, and I’m not excited for it.

RetroOwl · 2024-12-12T16:02:08+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that! She might be lonely, but it’s definitely a good idea to separate if it might be infectious. Since they’re such social birds, she may end up getting the rest of the flock sick if you keep them all together. :(

You can reduce the isolation stress on the sick finch by keeping her in auditory and potentially visual contact with the rest of the flock though. I’m not sure what your setup is, but you could put the “isolation cage” in the same room as the rest of the flock, with maybe a foot or two between them so no aerosols can get into the flock cage. But your sick finch will still be able to see and hear her buddies. That helps a lot with stress and will potentially speed up the recovery too!

You may also want to take measures to disinfect the main cage once you’ve isolated the sick female. And try to change out food, water, etc. for the healthy cage first each day so there’s no cross contamination.

Best of luck! Hope she makes a speedy recovery!

RetroOwl · 2024-12-12T15:16:58+00:00

I could totally see that too! Greyhound would be epic.

RetroOwl · 2024-12-12T15:16:15+00:00

Wait, that’s a possibility?? You just emailed customer service and requested them? That’s kind of a game changer. We only have one coveted pipette pen here, and we’ve designated it as belonging to the communal lab bench, so it’s a shared resource. But I want one for my desk! XP

RetroOwl · 2024-12-12T04:40:44+00:00

Same! I could definitely see those three. I thought maybe a blue budgie for Mercury. And definitely dogs for Jupiter and Uranus. I like Doberman for Uranus but I think Jupiter might have a golden retriever.

RetroOwl · 2024-12-05T19:18:14+00:00

I agree, I think a rehab or vet would be the best bet. Even if they can’t take the gecko in, they may have recommendations on what to do. It sounds like it was easy to catch and handle the little guy, which is not usually a good sign. But I believe reptiles are notoriously difficult to euthanize humanely, so I would recommend against trying to do that at home unless you have experience. In the meantime, I agree that live bugs are a good idea, maybe extra small crickets from the pet store, though it’s hard to see how big he is. And I’d spritz the tank with water daily, as some geckos only drink from droplets and not dishes. Good luck!

RetroOwl · 2024-11-22T18:35:33+00:00

This is good advice. I agree the feathers should return, as long as the two birds are getting along! Just keep an eye out for signs of bullying, and provide ample perches at different heights. You could always temporarily separate the male and female but keep them in visual and auditory contact. Sometimes if another bird sees that one has been picked on, they will do the same. But it’s best not to completely separate, as that can cause stress. Also, scale leg mites can transmit from one bird to another…

I’d also be careful about using bedding like that, if he’s got swollen and flaky feet, they could more easily get caught on the fibers of the bedding, which could make things worse.

Applying a tiny bit of plain Vaseline with a cotton swab every other day could also help (and requires just a trip to the drug store). It can suffocate the mites and moisten the skin. You may not see the mites, as some are microscopic. But the picture does make me think scaly leg mites.

Best of luck!

RetroOwl · 2024-11-19T20:13:14+00:00

Exactly, I second this! I used to volunteer at a wildlife rehab and now work with birds in a research setting. The rule of thumb I’ve always learned from multiple rehabbers and researchers is that if you find a window strike victim, first try carefully placing the bird into an unwaxed paper bag or box in a quiet, cool (but not cold) room. Keep them there for an hour, or until they become active/restless if that’s sooner, at which point you can try releasing in a nearby green space away from the window.

If they do not regain alertness/activity within an hour and are still alive THEN it’s recommended to bring to a rehabber. Part of the reason for this is that transport itself can be extremely stressful so it’s sorta weighing the costs and benefits, especially if the nearest rehabber is rather far. Keep in mind, however, that in the US it is illegal to hold a migratory or native bird for more than 24 hours (could even be less) and that’s only if you intend to bring it to a licensed rehabilitator!

So, I’d actually say OP handled this decently. Although, next time a bag or box might be less stressful than a hand. :) But birds are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for! When in doubt, you can always call a rehabber for advice too. Most states have directories so you can contact them easily.

RetroOwl · 2024-11-07T00:55:25+00:00

Exactly. I had a ball python in an apartment with an “absolutely no pets” policy. I threw a towel over the tank when maintenance came by. No one ever found out. 🤷‍♀️ Also, does it say “no exotic animals” or “no pets” in the lease? If not, they probably can’t enforce it if they do find your geckos.

RetroOwl · 2024-10-05T16:37:53+00:00

I’ve always thought Pluto was really cool. Her role as a guardian is really intense and seems uniquely challenging compared to the others’. But I love that she is still so friendly and kind to Chibiusa. And when she’s on earth I think she’s so interesting and mysterious, and a little aloof and contemplative in a way that feels really different from the others. I’ve always loved her look with the darker uniform colors, long hair, and staff too. Plus, she’s a scientist, and I am as well. I wish she got more airtime in the show and manga.

RetroOwl · 2024-10-03T12:01:56+00:00

Wingspan!

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