Hatchlings and nestlings can't survive outside of the nest, but fledglings are normally safe if you find them on the ground. To help a fallen hatchling, check for their nest and look for the parents perched or flying nearby.
Baby robins jump from their nest when they are about 13 days old. It takes them another 10-15 days to become strong fliers and independent birds.
Robins feed on insects (especially beetles) and worms. You might notice one following you about as your dig up your garden hoping to nab a few worms as you unearth them. Robins can also eat fruit, seeds, suet, crushed peanuts, sunflower hearts and raisins. They particularly enjoy mealworms.
The young are tended by their parents for up to three weeks after fledging. Frequently the care of the fledged young is left to the male, while the female prepares herself for the next nesting effort. Robins have two broods a year.
Things You'll Need. An orphaned baby robin left on its own before the age of two weeks will most likely perish. Robins are unlike other birds in that they will not consume bird food and live on a diet of invertebrate animals, such as grubs or fruits and berries.
At night, Dad leads them to a roost tree with other dads and babies. The young robins learn how to be in a flock. At first, fledglings hide as much as they can because they are defenseless. Speckling helps hide them.
Young Ones
The survival rate of the fledglings to adulthood is approximately 37%.
Baby birds: Nestlings and fledglings
If you can locate the nest nearby, the best thing to do is simply place the nestling back in the nest. If you cannot locate the nest, leave the nestling where you found it or move it to a shaded area. The parents will come back. Don't worry, your scent won't deter the parents.
A baby robin should be fed as much as it can eat at least every half hour from sunrise to sunset. You can take a 2-3 hour break maybe once a day.
If you think you've found a sick or wounded fledgling or nestling, call a rehabber, state wildlife agency, or veterinarian immediately. If it's after hours, take the baby to a safe and warm location, Furr says, such as a closed box with air holes and a heating pad beneath it.
A very young healthy fledgling can be fed by placing tiny morsels of food into its gaping mouth. Vitamin supplements are also recommended and can usually be obtained from pet shops. Older fledglings will help themselves to food in a small bowl.
The baby robins will never return to this nest! Nests for most birds are NOT houses at all--they're just baby cradles. Now the babies will start sleeping in sheltered tree branches, as adult robins do. See the next Robin Nest Photo Lesson and discussion of today's questions.
A fledgling songbird is a “teenaged” baby robin, sparrow, starling, finch, etc. These babies often have a fleshy white, pink, or yellow “lip” around the edge of their beak. They may open their mouths wide and chirp to beg for food. Fledglings are older babies, so they already have most of their feathers.
Keep the animal in a dark, quiet place indoors, in an enclosed or covered container. For most species, a cardboard box is perfect. If your home is small, a closet or a bathroom is an excellent spot. A basement, heated garage, or spare bedroom will also work.
For robins, it's around 50% each year once young birds have fledged. If a robin survives to midwinter, it lives an average of 1.7 years after that.
A fledgling is a juvenile robin that has flown the nest, although they may still be reliant on their parents for food. These robins will be transitioning into a period where they will sleep during the night and will practice gathering food and flying during the daylight.
❖ If the baby bird is on the ground and doesn't move away as you approach, it needs to be rescued. Pick it up! Do NOT leave it on the ground where it can be attacked by cats, dogs, grackles (black birds) or ants.
It is possible to overfeed a baby bird, but they will generally let you know when they've had enough by shutting their bill. Never force a baby bird's mouth open to give them more. Don't worry, they'll let you know when they are hungry.
Place the baby bird in a cardboard box lined with a soft towel underneath; cover. Punch holes in the sides of the box to allow for air circulation and keep the lid on the box except for feeding times. Darkness calms birds, so the baby robin will be less likely to injure itself fluttering around in this contained space.
Fledgling (13-14 days old or older).
This bird is fully feathered. Its wings and tail may be short, and it may not be a great flyer, but it can walk, hop, or flutter. It has left the nest, though its parents may be nearby, taking good care of it.
Any songbird you find on the ground who is an adult, rather than a fledgling, and who does not immediately fly away from you is in need of help. The bird is either sick or injured and must be taken right away to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Fledglings – Night (Nocturnal) Birds
If you find them on the ground in the day, they will need your help to be kept safe. Place them in a box somewhere in your house and at dusk, return them to a tree branch where you found them as this is the time their parents will return to feed them.
Just about every time the nestlings gulp down some food, they poop. Let's see—that's 13 days x 4 babies x 356 insects and worms on average each day. That's a LOT of poop!
Fledglings don't make a nest yet, preferring to hide among the available trees and shrubs. They frequently sleep near the nest they have just left in the treetops. They will begin to rest on trees or bushes further away as they hop around and test their wings.