Grumpy face, a liâl scruffy, standing or hopping and fully feathered? Yup, thatâs a fledgling. Unless theyâre injured or in danger, you can usually let them be.
A fledgling is a bird whoâs just left the nest. They donât fly much at first, but this is normal. If they can stand or hop and are covered in feathers, theyâre likely fine. Their parents are usually nearby foraging for food to feed them. If youâre not sure, wait and watch from a distance to see if the parents show up.
If a fledgling is in a road or other dangerous spot, itâs OK to move them to a safer place nearby but only a few feet away! A fledgling is still dependent on their parents, and the parents must be able to find them.
**Note: Pigeons are the exception. Pigeons stay in the nest a long 4 weeks and look almost like adults when they fledge. Usually if a pigeon looks too young to be out of the nest (short wings, short tail, fuzzy head), they are.**
If youâre not sure, send us a photo or contact your local wildlife rehabber.