Important: Your safety comes first. Take care when entering traffic, climbing trees, handling aggressive animals or placing yourself at risk. If the bird is native wildlife in Victoria, contact Wildlife Victoria for emergency Bird-Vet assistance on (03) 8400 7300.
Found an injured bird? Follow these steps first
Whether you have found a wild bird, pigeon, parrot, chicken, lorikeet, cockatoo or escaped pet bird, the first aim is to keep the bird safe, calm and contained until Bird-Vet help is available.
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Check that it is safe to help
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Prepare a secure ventilated box
Use a cardboard box or pet carrier lined with a towel.
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Gently cover and lift the bird
Use a towel to calmly cover the bird, then gently lift it into the box. Avoid squeezing the chest, as birds need chest movement to breathe properly.
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Keep the bird warm, dark and quiet
Place the box somewhere quiet and away from children, pets, noise and bright light. Warmth nad heating and low stimulation can help reduce shock.
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Call for advice
Contact wildlife Vic toria rescue or the closest emergency veterinary clinic.
Signs an injured bird needs urgent help
If you can easily catch the bird, it usually needs help. Birds often hide signs of illness or injury. If a bird is easy to catch, sitting fluffed up, unable to fly or not responding normally, it should be treated as potentially unwell or injured.
Breathing or shock signs
Open-mouth breathing, heavy tail bobbing, weakness, collapse, fluffed feathers, sitting on the ground or not trying to escape.
Visible injury
Bleeding, wounds, broken feathers, a drooping wing, abnormal leg position, head injury, swelling, burns or being caught in netting or string.
High-risk situations
Cat attack, dog attack, window strike, car impact, suspected poisoning, heat stress, oil contamination or being found after a storm.
Cat attacks are urgent even if the bird looks okay. Small puncture wounds can be hidden under feathers, and infection can develop quickly. A bird caught by a cat should be assessed by a Bird-vet and given antibiotics as soon as possible.
How to safely contain an injured bird
Containment is often the most helpful thing you can do before transport. The goal is not to examine the bird but to prevent escape, reduce stress and avoid further injury.
You will need
- A cardboard box, pet carrier or secure ventilated container
- A clean towel or cloth
- Paper towel or a towel for the floor of the box
- A quiet, warm area away from pets
Handling tips - from our AVIAN VET
- Approach slowly and calmly.
- Place a towel over the bird to reduce flapping and stress.
- Keep wings gently folded against the body.
- Do not hold tightly around the chest.
- For larger parrots or birds with strong beaks, avoid putting fingers near the face.
What not to do with an injured bird
Well-meaning first aid can accidentally make a bird worse.
Do not force food or water
A weak or shocked bird can aspirate food or water into the lungs. Do not syringe water into the beak unless specifically directed.
Apply home splints carefully
Bandages, tape or splints can restrict circulation, worsen fractures or cause pressure injuries if applied incorrectly.
Do not keep checking the bird
Repeated handling, loud noise and opening the box can increase stress. Keep the bird quiet until professional help is arranged.
Bird caught by a cat or dog
If a bird has been caught by a cat or dog, it should be treated as urgent even if there is no obvious bleeding. Feathers can hide puncture wounds, bruising and internal trauma.
Do not wait to see if the bird improves. Cat bite and scratch injuries can become serious quickly. Place the bird in a secure ventilated box and contact a bird vet, emergency vet.
For pet birds, call your avian vet as soon as possible. For wild birds in Victoria, contact Wildlife Victoria.
What if I found a baby bird?
Not every baby bird on the ground is injured. Some young birds are fledglings learning to fly and may still be fed by their parents nearby. However, a baby bird may need help if it is injured, cold, weak, featherless, covered in ants, in immediate danger or has been caught by a cat or dog.
Before intervening
- Look for obvious injury or danger.
- Keep cats and dogs away.
- Watch from a distance to see if parent birds are attending.
- If the bird is very young, cold, injured or unsafe, seek professional advice.
Tip: If the baby bird is bright, feathered and hopping around, it may be a fledgling. If unsure, call Wildlife Victoria before removing it.
Native wild birds in Victoria
Native birds require appropriate wildlife care and rehabilitation. In Victoria, injured native wildlife should be assessed by a registered veterinarian or authorised wildlife rehabilitator. Members of the public can rescue and transport wildlife for help if it is safe to do so, but ongoing care should be handled by authorised people.
Who to contact
- Wildlife Victoria emergency hotline: (03) 8400 7300
- After-hours: contact your nearest emergency veterinary hospital or wildlife rescue service.
Note: Rules and rescue pathways can differ for native wildlife, introduced species and domestic birds such as chickens.
Injured pet birds, parrots, chickens and aviary birds
Pet birds can deteriorate quickly after trauma, stress, blood loss, egg-laying issues, overheating, toxin exposure or predator attacks. If your pet bird is injured, keep them warm, quiet and contained, then book an appointment at Bird Vet Melbourne via the link Book Appointment.
Common pet bird emergencies
- Bleeding blood, feather or broken nail
- Wing, leg or beak injury
- Cat or dog attack
- Difficulty breathing
- Collapse, weakness or sitting fluffed up
- Egg binding or straining
- Burns, fumes, toxin exposure or suspected poisoning
- Sudden inability to perch or fly
Need a bird vet in Melbourne?
Bird Vet Melbourne sees parrots, chickens, pigeons, lorikeets, cockatoos, budgies, canaries and other pet and aviary birds. For urgent concerns, call the clinic directly. To book an appointment
Phone: (03) 9808 9011
How to transport an injured bird
Transport should be calm, secure and low-stress. Keep the bird in a ventilated box or carrier. Avoid loud music, air conditioning directly on the bird, unnecessary handling or placing the box in direct sun.
Transport checklist
- Use a secure ventilated box or carrier.
- Line the base with a towel or paper towel.
- Keep the box level and stable in the car.
- Keep the bird warm but not overheated.
- Do not offer food or water during transport unless advised.
- Call ahead so the clinic or wildlife carer knows you are coming.
Local help for injured birds in Melbourne
If you are in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, Burwood, Box Hill, Camberwell, Glen Waverley, Mount Waverley, Doncaster, Blackburn, Surrey Hills, Ashwood or surrounding areas, Bird Vet Melbourne can assist with pet bird and avian veterinary advice.
For native wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, contact Wildlife Victoria or an authorised wildlife rehabilitator. For introduced birds, domestic birds or chickens, your local vet or council may be the appropriate contact depending on the situation.
Frequently asked questions
Should I give an injured bird water?
Usually no. A weak, shocked or injured bird can inhale water into the lungs if water is forced into the beak. Keep the bird warm, dark and quiet, and call a vet or wildlife carer for advice.
Should I feed an injured bird?
Do not force food. Different bird species need different diets, and an unwell bird may not be safe to feed. Incorrect feeding can cause choking, aspiration or digestive issues.
What should I do if a bird hit a window?
Place the bird in a ventilated box lined with a towel and keep it quiet and dark. If it does not recover quickly, has breathing difficulty, cannot stand, has a drooping wing or seems abnormal, contact a vet or wildlife rescuer.
What should I do if my cat caught a bird?
Contain the bird and seek help urgently. Cat-caught birds can have hidden puncture wounds and infection risk even when they appear outwardly normal.
Can I keep a wild bird overnight?
Wild birds should not be kept longer than necessary. Keep the bird safely contained and quiet while you arrange transfer to a registered veterinarian or authorised wildlife rehabilitator.
Related bird health services
For more information, you may also find these pages helpful:
Found an injured Pet bird and not sure what to do?
Book at Bird Vet Melbourne or call (03) 9808 9011. Our Bird Vet nursing team can help guide you on the safest next step for pet birds, parrots, chickens and injured avian patients.