How To Help An Injured Pigeon

Birds have been coexisting with humans in urban areas for centuries now, and the domestic pigeon – Columba Livia Domestica – is a common sight in most cities and urban areas around the world. For the most part, people consider pigeons to be a bit of a nuisance, but there are many who don’t mind having pigeons around their homes and gardens. 

While having pigeons entering the garden can be interesting and charming, occasionally, you may find a sick or injured pigeon in your garden or around your neighbourhood. Like all living creatures, an injured pigeon that is left to fend for itself in the wild will find it extremely difficult to survive without help. If you find an injured pigeon and want to help it recover, here are some things you can do and some things you probably shouldn’t.

How To Tell If A Pigeon Is Injured?[i]

The first sign of an injured bird tends to be quite visible but, in some cases, not clear until you approach the bird. Birds are magnificent creatures, and they spend a lot of time preening their feathers. While the main reason for preening is to arrange their feathers and improve their insulation and waterproofing properties, they also improve the bird’s look in much the same way as the right hairdo in humans. Here are some of the most common signs of a sick or injured pigeon:

• The bird appears dull and lifeless. Its eyes may be closed, and it may not be aware of your approach. 
• The bird’s feathers look ruffled, dull and dishevelled.
• There is an obvious wound or injury such as a lame leg, broken wing or an open wound.
• The bird appears to be distressed and may have breathing problems.
• The bird does not try to fly away when you come near.
• The bird tries to fly away but is unable to and keeps falling back to the ground. 

If the pigeon you are looking at displays any of these symptoms, it may be injured or sick. At this point, you should call your local wildlife organisation for advice, but you can also try to help the bird.

What To Do With An Injured Pigeon?[ii]

If you do come across an injured bird and would like to take it home to help it recover, there are some things you need to do, and you need to do them carefully. Here’s how you can help an injured pigeon:

1. Try to pick it up very gently with two hands. If it is a smaller bird, you can hold it in two hands but always pick it up gently with both hands. Whatever you do, be as gentle as possible and don’t grasp the bird too hard, especially around the breast. 
2. If the bird is flailing around, trying to pick it up with your hands may cause the bird to become distressed. In this case, you may need to try to cover the bird with a soft blanket or a towel and gently gather the bird within the blanket. This will also cause the pigeon less stress, and if it does have a broken wing, the blanket will also make it easier to place the bird in a box or cage, which will make it easier to transport. 
3. Once you bring it inside, keep the bird in a warm, dark corner. The darkness will keep the bird calm, and the warmth will be quite soothing for the bird. 
4. Offer the bird some water. In most cases, it is possible that the bird has been lying on the ground for some time, and it may be dehydrated. You can also add a pinch of sugar and salt to boost the bird’s electrolytes. 
5. Once the bird appears calm, check for visible injuries such as a drooping wing, bleeding or limping. 
6. Offer the bird some food. Pigeons like to eat seeds and grains, so give them a small amount to see if they will eat. If the bird doesn’t take food, it will need a veterinarian’s help. Birds have quite the metabolism and will need to eat frequently. If it is too sick or injured to eat, it will need help.
7. If the pigeon has a broken wing and you’re unsure what you need to do, it is best left to a veterinarian or wildlife officer. Even the smallest mistake can cause permanent damage to the bird.

I Have Found An Injured Pigeon – Who Do I Call?[iii]

If you’ve found an injured pigeon, try to bring it inside and keep it warm and comfortable until you can get the bird the help it needs. Some of the organisations you can contact are:

RSPCA  – Telephone: 0300 123 4999 (England & Wales)

SSPCA – Telephone: 03000 999 999 (Scotland)

USPCA  – Telephone: 028 3025 1000 (Ireland)

or visit the HelpWildlife website.

FAQ

When you encounter an injured pigeon, it’s not always easy to decide what to do. You can let nature take its course and leave it alone and hope it recovers on its own but do you really want to do that? Many people are put off by the possibility of being bitten or clawed, but we owe it to our feathered friends to help them out. In most cases, people will look at the bird and have many questions, so we’ve put together the most frequently asked questions to help you give the injured pigeon in front of you some assistance. 

1. Can I pick up an injured pigeon?

The simple answer is YES! You can definitely pick up an injured pigeon, but you must be careful. The simplest way to pick up a pigeon is to gather it gently in your hands. If you’re concerned the bird will flail about, you can gently throw a towel or soft blanket over the bird first and then try to scoop it up. Keep in mind that if the bird does not resist at all, there is a chance that it is seriously sick or injured and will need medical attention as soon as possible.

2. Should I leave an injured pigeon?

The main thing to remember when dealing with an injured pigeon is that it will already be distressed in most cases, and your close presence will make it feel more anxious. If the bird is in your garden, simply hold back and watch it for a while. In many cases, the bird may simply be stunned and it should be up and flying after it has recovered from its shock. However, if you’re out in a park or near the woods and you find an injured bird, you can leave the bird where it is and hope for the best, or you can call the RSPCA or another animal welfare organisation and let them know where they can find the bird. If you do call, it is advisable to wait until help arrives so that if the bird does get up and fly away, you can call again and let the rescue team know. Also, it may not be a bad idea to stay close to shoo away any predators that come lurking for an easy meal. 

At the end of the day, do try and help the bird. Whether you simply move it to a safer place, take it home and help it or call animal welfare, try and do something to help.

3. Will the RSPCA take an injured pigeon?

The RSPCA will take an injured pigeon, so if you do find one, see if you can give the bird some immediate assistance and then call the RSPCA for advice or help. The RSPB can help you with advice, but this organisation does not have the facilities or the resources to take injured pigeons or other wildlife. For more information, check the RSPCA’s advice on injured wild animals.

4. What to feed an injured pigeon?

Pigeons do well on a diet of seeds, grains, berries and some insects, so you can offer anything you have on hand in a pinch or even just a few small pieces of bread to get them to start eating. However, to ensure an injured pigeon makes a full recovery and has the best chance of survival, offer them a variety of garden bird food that will supply them with essential vitamins, minerals and oils for their recovery. Show the bird it can come to your garden for a feed, and it will return long after you’ve helped it recover and released it back into the wild.

Don’t Despair

If you do decide to help an injured pigeon, do the best you can to keep it calm and offer it shelter, food and water until it recovers. If you feel you don’t have the skills and confidence to do this, call your local vet or an animal welfare organisation to take the bird and give it the help it needs. 

Remember that sometimes, despite your kindness and efforts, some sick or injured pigeons may not survive. It can be heart-breaking when this happens, but don’t be too hard on yourself. You did what you could so the pigeon would have a chance at survival, and if you had not intervened, the bird would have had no chance at all. You’ll lose some, but you’ll save some too.

Sources

  [i] https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/injured-and-baby-birds/if-you-find-an-injured-bird/

[ii] https://pethelpful.com/wildlife/Common-Pigeon-Injuries-and-How-To-Help-Our-Feathered-Friends

[iii] https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/how-you-can-help-birds/injured-and-baby-birds/sick-and-injured-birds-faqs/ 

Gemma Sharp

Gemma Sharp is the resident writer for Garden Bird, a supplier of premium bird food and accessories. She has had a genuine love for our feathered friends from a young age, and has dedicated a lot of her time to learning all there is to know about them. If you’re struggling to pick the right bird feed for your garden, need help identifying a type of wild bird, or can’t decide where to put a nesting box, Gemma is the person to go to! She is passionate about sharing her years of learnt knowledge with the public. In her free time, she can be found feeding birds at home with her three young boys.