Cute fuffyness!
We've just moved into our apartment in Pune, India... and guess who we found waiting for us on our doorstep? This little guy:



He's somehow managed to get lost from his mom, we estimate he's only 3-4 weeks old. If anyone can identify the species or let us know what's best to feed him we'd be grateful.

He's eaten a lot of scrambled egg (thanks RSPCA website) and seems to like that.

And finally: Awwwww cuteness!
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:17, 22 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Awwww... I WANT!
Then again, I've always had a soft spot for little birds, in particular chickadees...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:22, Reply)

What kind of bird?

A cute fwuffeh one!

Aaaaaw
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:23, Reply)

We don't know
What type of bird it is, we're hoping some animal geek can tell us :)
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:24, Reply)

Oh Noes!
Quick! Put it down! That is the extremely dangerous Brown Waif, found only in India. Very poisonous. Just touching it will turn your fingernails glossy black!
And umm...
It will...look at you...
erm...
Oh I know! Maybe it's a pirate bird!
Ahoy, matey?
(w4I4q1O1 was hard at work on, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:29, Reply)

Erm...
It looks like a kind of sparrow.

I'm no ornithologist, insects and reptiles are more my thing, but I'd say it's likely one of these:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot-billed_Sparrow

Pic here: www.kenyabirds.org.uk/pics/sparr-hm.jpg

(Yeah, it says Kenya, but there things fly, long distances)
( Cawl, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:30, Reply)

Axai,
that's what I was telling you. A cute fwuffeh one. That's all it needs to be.

On feeding, try insects. A bit of fly paper (or baking parchment coated with honey) will catch a veritable feast of small beasts for the baby's delectation.
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:31, Reply)

Bahaha
YARRRRGH talk like a pirate day.
Anyway.. nah, that's my girlfriends hands and trust me.. she's far from being a gawth. She's a sensible girl. The black fingernails are only there to cover up a hideous previous paint job ;)

edit: @tww d'oh stupid me. Ill hunt out some bugs :D
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:31, Reply)

I've gotta go slightly against the fly-paper idea
Some of them have poisonous chemicals in 'em.
Go with the honey idea, good stuff.

Or leave a light on tonight, get any moths that come to it, they're a bit "meatier" than other insects, they flutter more, which is more attractive to a bird, and also they don't eat crops, so are less likely to be full of pesticides.
( Cawl, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:34, Reply)

@all
Thanks muchly for your replies, we'll try and get you some meaty insects for it!

This bastard is hungry though..

@Kaol: How are you honey? Thanks for the info ;)
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:37, Reply)

No problem
A bit more reading has proved that my Parrot-billed Sparrow idea is bollocks, but it's a sparrow or a finch, of some kind, so it'll eat insects.

If it won't, then buy some seeds, like sunflower seeds.
( Cawl, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:39, Reply)

Nonsense, Kaol!
Today, it is definitely a Parrot-related bird!
AAARRRRRGH!
Where’s me booty of fresh bugs!
I bet he's got a wooden leg
(w4I4q1O1 was hard at work on, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:44, Reply)

Awwwwwww!
*fluffs*
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 16:44, Reply)

is it some sort of finch possibly?
or a spice bird?
( rachelswipe with a fork, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:07, Reply)

It's funny
how a cute bird has attracted all the woman and TRL. Strange.
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:09, Reply)

*cough*
*frowns*
( Cawl, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:13, Reply)

As I said
I have a soft spot for the birds. And for avians as well...

Arrrr!
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:15, Reply)

Yarghh!
Or something...

icanhascheezburger.com
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:16, Reply)

TRL
A soft spot for the birds?

Can I recommend the little blue pills?

EDIT: Have a good time Al!
( Cawl, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:18, Reply)

Little blue pills?
You mean the diamond shaped ones? Don't need 'em- despite my advanced years, everything still works quite nicely, thanks.

Or were there other blue pills you were referring to that I don't know about?
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 19 Sep 2008, 17:58, Reply)

We usually feed small birds
a combination of Hills AD (very high in fat and protein)and critical care bird formula, which may not be of the best use to you out there in India. If he'll eat off a spoon then you can try cat food - more expensive the better as it's really rich, one of the gourmet pate ones is good, mixed with water 2:1 so he wont get dehydrated. Or if you're not squeamish, get some worms, but cat food is probably easier. A bird that size should be eating around 5-10 mls of feed a day, increasing as time goes on.

Keep him in a dark room in a smallish box but not with lid on so he can see out and wont suffocate and stuff if you can - might be too late - this'll help prevent shock setting in.

Hope this helps
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Fri 19 Sep 2008, 18:56, Reply)

Hey y'all!
Thanks for all the advice, its 11am here in India and the little bird is doing well.

He fell asleep at 11pm and then woke me up at 7am upon which i woke the girlfriend up and she went off to feed him. Bahahha.

He's very lively, active and rather noisy too. So i guess he managed to get over the shock. How often should we feed him?

Axai
( Axai is in Montréal, Canada O.o, Sat 20 Sep 2008, 7:05, Reply)

I would say
feed a little, very often. I think the parents pretty much feed them all day every day!
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Sat 20 Sep 2008, 11:45, Reply)