911 - What kind of bird is this?

[KJE]

My husband and I rescued this baby bird from the middle of a VERY busy highway. It almost got hit by several cars. It can't fly yet. I think it left its nest too soon. We are going to call Fish and Wildlife tomorrow, but we'd like to know what it is so we can tell them. We would not have interfered with wildlife if it wasn't in the middle of the road. It seems to be VERY hungry. My husband is feeding it meal worms, crickets, and meal worm beetles with long tweezers. I hope someone can help and knows what it is. BTW, its from just north of Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

[strat321]

kestrel

looks like a young kestrel.
could feed it pinkes till you see it off.

 

[KJE]

I don't have any pinkies. Do you think it would eat a roach?

 

[death1]

Sparrow Hawk??????

worms or anything high protein. fill him up.

 

[Ravienne]

looks like a young kestrel.

I agree. http://www.kestrelsacrossamerica.org/

I'd suggest looking for a wildlife rehabiliation clinic of some kind. Most areas have one; they take in all kinds of abandoned wild animals and have licenses and training specific to local wildlife. I'd suggest this because the bird might have specific needs (maybe liquid food and such) that may be rather time-consuming, and because those who work at the clinics know how to avoid imprinting the bird so that it can be ready for release into the wild. Or, if you try to raise the bird yourself, they can have some good advice on its care.

Good luck! It's a beautiful animal!

EDIT: Whoops, I should really read a whole post before I respond. Y'all were already going to call Fish and Wildlife. :8o Well, yeah, so, anyway. . . cute kestrel!

 

[KJE]

EDIT: Whoops, I should really read a whole post before I respond. Y'all were already going to call Fish and Wildlife. Well, yeah, so, anyway. . . cute kestrel!

LOL! That's okay, I appreciate all the help!

I totally agree that it's an American Krestel. I think it will probably be able to fly in the next week or so. We have it in our bathroom in a 29 tall aquarium with a wire top held down by a couple of bricks. I was afraid to leave it outside for fear of a cat or something getting ahold of it.

I will definately be contacting the wildlife experts to see what they would like for us to do.

We have put some grass hay in the bottom of the aquarium so it doesn't slip when it tries to walk. We also have a small bowl of water in there. We have been tossing in crickets and it is hunting them in the hay. I can't believe how much it has eaten! It has had to have eaten at least 50 small crickets, a couple of meal worms, a few meal worm beetles, and one small roach from my roach colony. I'm thinking this little guy hasn't eaten in a LONG time.

 

[pitbulllady]

Young birds eat like that, though. They are like bottomless pits! You DO need to contact Fish and Wildlife ASAP, though, since in all states it is illegal to keep any bird of prey without a rehab or a falconer's license.

pitbulllady

 

[Randolph XX()]

Falco tinnunculus?Common Kestrel?better send to a vet to check first

 

[kellygirl]

That is one good looking bird! I've never heard of a Kestrel but, after looking at that site, it appears that's what you have. Keep us updated!

-Kelly

 

[Arlius]

Be its mommy and keep it, raise it, then maybe it will stick around... feed it meeeeeat.

 

[Spydra]

Hey Kellly! Very cute bird!!! Thank goodness you and your hubby rescued it. I could also ask the bird keepers at the Zoo, but since I gave you the fish and wildlife number to call, you will be better off, they will take care of it for you. I get calls all the time at work about people and wild critters. In the meantime, keep feeding it protein, fresh water and nice warm place to snuggle.

Best,
Renee

 

[KJE]

I called Fish and Wildlife this morning. They gave me the phone number to the only rehab in my area. I called them and got an answering machine. I left a detailed message with all of my numbers. I hope to hear from them soon. They specialize in birds, so now all I can do is wait.

My husband and I use to breed cockatiels, so I'm very comfortable with birds. Of course, cockatiels don't eat meat, but at least we know something about birds in general.

This morning the bird ate several baby B. discoidales roaches and small crickets. As soon as we bring a container of food near it, it opens its mouth. When we put our hand into its container to drop the food out, it starts eating before we even get our hand out. It doesn't seem to afraid of us at all anymore. We haven't touched it with our bare hands or anything, just fed it.

 

[JohnxII]

Falco tinnunculus? ...

When I saw that beak "baby falcon" immediately came out of my mind. So kestrels are in the falcon family right?

 

[Ravienne]

Any reply from the wildlife rehab clinic yet?

 

[WhyTeDraGon]

here are some facts about your little guy
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Resources/wildnotes/pub082.htm

 

[KJE]

I finally got a call back from RAPTOR, Inc. last night around 9pm. I dropped the little guy off to one of their people today. He immediately gave it two pre-killed mice. I'm sure he appreciated that! He said it should be able to fly in about 1 week. The plan is to let him and another one he has go where we found him because they don't know where the other one came from. He will be banded before he is released. Thanks to everyone who helped me figure out what he was, I was clueless!

 

[Ravienne]

Yay! I'm glad that turned out well. Whenever a situation like this comes up, I'm inevitably haunted by memories of Ranger Rick in which people take in a bird or other animal, take care of it themselves and let it go, and then it starves to death because it has no idea how to live on its own. Thus, I salute you for handling the situation as you did. (I'm looking for a saluting face, but there is none to be found. . .)

 

[Mendi]

Kestral, chicken hawk... other names. Related to falcons. It needs to go to a rehabilitation facility so that it can possibly lern to hunt and be released into the wild wonder world. If you plan on keeping it you will need permits and a good knowledge of falcontry

 

[KJE]

Kestral, chicken hawk... other names. Related to falcons. It needs to go to a rehabilitation facility so that it can possibly lern to hunt and be released into the wild wonder world. If you plan on keeping it you will need permits and a good knowledge of falcontry

Did you read the whole thread?

 

[Mendi]

I admit I skimmed a little, but did read all the parts that had the info I didn't
:? need :wall: :wall: