Hummingbirds are delicate little birds that can often find themselves in trouble. As nectar-feeding birds with high metabolisms, they are very susceptible to starvation if they cannot find enough food. Hummingbirds also face threats from predators, collisions with windows and cars, diseases, and injuries. If you find an injured, sick, or orphaned hummingbird, it will require specialized care to nurse it back to health. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to rescue, rehabilitate, and release a hummingbird.
How to rescue an injured or sick hummingbird
If you find a hummingbird on the ground or otherwise in distress, carefully capture it by throwing a lightweight towel or cloth over it. Once covered, gently pick it up and place it in a ventilated box or paper bag. Keep the bird in a warm, dark, quiet space until you can get it to a wildlife rehabilitation expert. Do not try to give it food or water.
Signs that a hummingbird needs help include:
- Sitting still on the ground or on a low perch for extended periods
- Little to no movement or reaction when approached
- Rapid or labored breathing
- Fluffed up feathers
- Visible injury or blood
If the bird is healthy aside from being grounded, it may just need a quick energy boost before being released. Make an emergency nectar solution of 1 part white sugar dissolved in 4 parts water. Place a few droplets on the tip of your finger and hold it near the hummingbird’s beak. If it drinks, you can release it once it has enough nourishment to fly.
Provide immediate care
Once you have the hummingbird in a temporary enclosure, assess its condition and act quickly to stabilize it. Look for any obvious injuries or issues and address imminent threats to its health first.
Here are some key steps for initial care:
- If dehydrated, give drops of room-temperature sugar-water every 10-15 minutes using a dropper. Do not give plain water.
- If the bird is bleeding, stop blood loss by applying direct pressure with a clean cloth or gauze.
- If wings are drooping or dragging, gently position them in a natural folded position against the body using medical tape.
- Keep the bird somewhere warm, quiet and dark to reduce stress.
- Do not attempt to give it food yet unless specifically directed by a rehab expert.
As soon as possible, contact a local wildlife rehabilitation center, veterinarian, or humane society that has experience caring for hummingbirds. Follow their guidance for any additional first aid steps until you can get the bird professional care.
Provide appropriate housing
Proper housing is essential for the hummingbird’s recovery while in rehabilitation. The enclosure should keep the bird safe, secure, and stress-free.
Key elements of good hummingbird housing:
- A ventilated box, cage or carrier with a perch
- No more than 5” x 6” floor space for small hummingbird species
- Larger space for bigger hummingbird species
- Placed in a warm, quiet, low-traffic area
- Lined with soft cloth for padding
- Covered partially to feel secure but not too confined
Avoid wire cages or enclosures so the bird does not damage its feathers. Keep other pets away and check that there are no ants or other insects getting into the housing. Keep the enclosure very clean by lining with new paper towels or cloths daily.
Offer appropriate foods
Feed the recovering hummingbird an appropriate diet for its species and age. The main dietary component will be nectar, but other foods may also be needed depending on the bird’s condition.
Nectar
Make homemade nectars to supplement or replace natural nectar while nursing the hummingbird back to health. Use the following recipe:
- 1 part white, refined sugar
- 4 parts water
Boil the water first, then stir in the sugar until fully dissolved. Let cool before serving to the hummingbird. Replace the nectar 2-3 times per day or whenever it gets cloudy.
Feed the nectar in a small shallow dish, clean dropper, or through the cage mesh. Position it near a perch so the hummingbird can feed easily.
Insects
Insects are an important source of protein for hummingbirds. For adult hummingbirds, catching live insects to feed is ideal. Mealworms, small crickets, flies, and moths are good options. If live insects are not possible, an emergency substitute is feeding commercial hand-feeding formulas for birds.
For young hummingbirds, a diet of soft-bodied insects is critical. The best options are tiny mealworms, waxworms, maggots, and fruit fly cultures from pet stores. Feed 15-20 small insects, 3-5 times per day.
Fruit
Small amounts of softened fruit can also help provide nutrition while rehabilitating a hummingbird. Good fruits to try are banana, melon, papaya, strawberry, and orange. Mash the fruit thoroughly and feed by dropper.
Avoid foods like bread, meat, uncooked rice, birdseed, or eggs since they can be difficult to digest.
Vitamins
A general vitamin supplement can help fill any nutritional gaps while the hummingbird is recovering. Use a commercially available powdered nectar supplement or liquid bird vitamin product. Follow package directions for dosage. Provide fresh vitamin-enriched food at each feeding.
Water
Always provide plain fresh water in a shallow dish and change it frequently. Do not give hummingbirds water with vitamins, sugars, or electrolytes added – this can do more harm than good.
Support feeding and digestion
Hummingbirds have very specialized feeding needs. Assess if the bird is able to feed on its own, and provide support if needed.
Signs of problems include:
- Not voluntarily eating or drinking
- Spilling a lot of liquid when feeding
- Sitting with a puffed-out neck and chest after eating
- Evidence of vomiting or regurgitation
- Feathers around beak stained with food
If the hummingbird is having difficulty feeding, try the following techniques:
- Gently open the beak and place drops of nectar or mashed fruit inside every 5-10 minutes.
- Hold the dropper tip or feeding syringe inside the beak so the bird does not have to reach for it.
- Stroke the throat gently to stimulate swallowing after putting food in the beak.
- Keep the head aligned with the body, not with the neck bent back.
Digestive issues may also require treatment such as providing probiotic supplements. Work closely with the rehab expert to address any feeding or digestion problems.
Check for injuries and provide medical treatment
Injured hummingbirds often need specialized medical treatment and care during rehabilitation. Here are some common hummingbird injuries and how to respond:
Broken bones
Use cardboard splints and medical tape to immobilize broken wings or legs if advised by a vet. Stabilize fractures so they can heal.
Concussions
Head trauma is common after window collisions. Look for symptoms like unstable posture, lethargy, or walking in circles. Support recovery through rest in a quiet space, pain medication if prescribed, and monitoring for improvement.
Cuts, punctures, and wounds
Stop bleeding by applying pressure. Clean wounds gently with saline solution. Apply antibiotic ointment if advised and cover wounds with nonstick gauze.
Eye injuries
Wearing gloves, flush eye gently with saline to wash out any dirt or irritants. Apply medicated eye drops if prescribed. Do not attempt to remove any foreign objects stuck in the eye.
Feather damage
Feathers often get ruffled or broken during rescue and initial care. Use your fingertips or a soft brush to gently smooth and reposition damaged feathers.
Only attempt to pull broken feathers if the shaft is fractured and they are causing issues. Any substantial plucking should be done by an avian vet.
Provide rehabilitation exercise
As the hummingbird heals and becomes more active, structured exercise becomes important to rebuild flight strength and endurance. Try these rehab exercises once the bird is stable, under guidance from the wildlife rehabilitator:
- Short sessions of gentle wing flapping for a few minutes, twice a day. Do not overexert the bird.
- Gradually increasing time perched on an elevated platform or dowel.
- Brief hovering exercises inside enclosure when almost ready for release.
Take care not to injure the hummingbird further during physical therapy. Stop any activity that causes labored breathing or extreme fatigue.
Support pre-release conditioning
The last step before releasing the rehabilitated hummingbird is pre-release conditioning to ensure survival in the wild. This may involve:
- Moving the enclosure outdoors for natural light cycles and air.
- Exposing the bird to flowers and feeders for nectar.
- Releasing the bird into a small cage or pen outside so it can practice flying.
- Tagging and banding the hummingbird for tracking once released.
Only attempt release once the hummingbird is fully flighted, self-feeding, and behaving normally. Select a suitable outdoor area with nectar food sources available.
Conclusion
With specialized care and rehabilitation, many sick or injured hummingbirds can be successfully returned to the wild. Pay close attention to the bird’s energy, feeding, and activity levels to gauge recovery progress. Work closely with wildlife experts for guidance on any medical treatment, housing protocols, release timing, and other aspects of hummingbird rehabilitation.
While the process requires considerable time and effort, helping rescue a hummingbird in distress can be incredibly rewarding. These energetic little birds play an important role in pollinating flowers and balancing delicate ecosystems. Support their conservation by lending orphaned and injured hummingbirds a helping hand to get healthy and resume their free flight once more.
