late young bird

[nightshade]

What do I do ,there is a young greenfinch in the garden still with baby fluff ,it feeds in a desultory fashion then just goes to sleep wherever it is!

[henrya]

I think the best thing to do is to make sure it has plenty of food and water available. I don't think human intervention is called for.

henrya

[Helen]

That looks to me like one sick finch!

Typical signs are: All fluffed up, staying close to food etc, not flying around. Sleeping whereever it is. More than likely salmonella.

I always have a couple of finches like this in winter. Nothing you can do at all. The bird wont last long, probably be taken by a predator, sooner rather than later, hopefully.

Always sad to see a bird like this.

Make sure you now give all your feeders and especially the ground a good cleaning.

Finches seem to be prone to this disease, so don't worry too much about it.

[Pat]

Originally Posted by Helen

That looks to me like one sick finch!

Typical signs are: All fluffed up, staying close to food etc, not flying around. Sleeping whereever it is. More than likely salmonella.

I always have a couple of finches like this in winter. Nothing you can do at all. The bird wont last long, probably be taken by a predator, sooner rather than later, hopefully.

Always sad to see a bird like this.

Make sure you now give all your feeders and especially the ground a good cleaning.

Finches seem to be prone to this disease, so don't worry too much about it.

I thought this when I saw the picture, birds usually fluff their feathers when they're sick which often makes them look like young birds.

[Helen]

Here is a photo of a sick greenfinch I had in my garden a while ago.

[John]

I have to agree with Helen's sentiments in post 3, especially the point regarding cleaning your feeding station thoroughly.

[nightshade]

the finch was last seen alive yesterday, at 09:21 today a magpie picked up a dead bird presumably the finch