Blackbird unable to close it's beak

Karen75 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 12:20 PM

Hello, I have just found this website and hope that someone can offer some advice please. I have just been out in the garden and seen a male blackbird fly in to take some food and on closer inspection I realised it wasn't closing it's beak. It seemed to be able to feed OK. It has since been back and arrived with it's beak open again. The bird has been getting very close to me. I have read that broken beaks sometimes can repair but I haven't seen this problem before. Has anyone seen this before? I know that they often have their beaks open in the heat, but as it's not a particularly warm day today it's odd. Any advice would be very gratefully received. Thanks so much.
Karen

big bill · #2 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 04:16 PM

Hello Karen firstly welcome to the site,as to your blackbird if it can manage to feed it should be Ok as to it repairing itself I could not say but someone should know and be able to provide the answer soon best of luck.

ron1863 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 05:00 PM

Hi Karen and a warm welcome to WAB. I found it amusing that your first post on a beak was answered by Big Bill.

I don't understand how it can be eating fine if it can't close it's beak - what is it eating? but if it is eating then as Bill says, it should be fine. I would imagine only a visit to the Vet would answer your question properly.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 05:13 PM

Hi Karen and welcome to WAB..
Like the others have said its best not to do anything if the bird is eating then catching it would only stress it out..
Maybe you could get a few pics if it come close and upload them to the site..

valleyforge · #5 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 09:24 AM

Hi Karen75,

A photograph if possible really would assist us in providing the best answer to your query.

Blackbirds in particular seem to be prone to fracturing the lower part of their beaks ... their habit of swooping low, particulary over roads, puts them in great danger of collisions with road traffic. When this doesn't prove fatal, it can often result in a fractured beak.

Just how well it can eat will depend of course on the point of fracture ... a fracture nearer the tip of the beak will prove less of a handicap to eating, than one near to the hinge which would prevent any food from being picked up. Does it look like the beak has an unnatural hinge point where it is open?

Any such injury is likely to become infected before long and isn't likely to self-heal in the optimum position, if at all. So, if this indeed is the problem, then treatment will be necessary.

Repairs on beaks are generally successful, and most wildlife rescue centres like us should have some experience in providing that level of first aid, as of course will a vet, if you can find one in your area sufficiently interested in providing the treatment. Few vets are however able or prepared to handle the necessary aftercare needed though, so the involvement of a wildlife rescue group is ultimately necessary to ensure it can be returned to the wild fully recuperated.

As others in this thread have advised though, further observation is essential before any intervention, to establish the true nature of the problem.

Karen75 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-2009, 07:36 PM

Hi all, thank you so much to everyone for all your input, I really appreciate all your comments. Thank you for your reply Ron1863 and to answer your question, I put out a saucer and broke up a fat ball into small pieces, which he seemed to be scooping up OK and warning the other birds off as well so he seemed very feisty! I unfortunately haven't seen him today so I do hope he is all right. I don't want to cause him unnecessary stress but if there is anything I can do to help him I will. Thank you for the lengthy reply valleyforge, It did look like the beak had an unnatural hinge point but it was tricky to see and I wish I had had my camera close to hand to study it after wards. Thanks again to everyone and I will keep you posted.
Karen