Odd little bird - help with ident please

[Smithie]

Does anyone have any idea what this bird is please? I came across it in our churchyard today.

[Deb London]

It looks like a juvenile Swift.

[htcdude]

Agree with Debs

Nige

[Jonners]

Yes, a young swift; if it is on the ground it won't be able to get airborne again and may well die unless assisted somehow.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Jonners

Yes, a young swift; if it is on the ground it won't be able to get airborne again and may well die unless assisted somehow.

I agree, it's got no chance on the ground. You need to get back to it asap and then launch it into the air. Hold it in your arms and give it a big underarm lob so that it rises up high, into the wind. It should be able to immediately fly. If it doesn't, then it hasn't got much chance, but you could put it high up on a wall.

[Smithie]

Many thanks for your help. I've been back but had no luck. As I picked it up several huge ticks came out from among the feathers. I managed to get 6 of them off it but although it tried to fly when I threw it into the wind, it couldn't make it. It seemed very bright and held onto my fingers strongly but couldn't fly. I've left it fairly high up in some ivy around a tree in the churchyard as there wasn't a high wall and the wind was battering it. I'll check it tomorrow but I doubt it has much chance - not helped by having crash landed a few times!

[Farplace]

Was there any sign of injury? Perhaps it needs help?

[cara pace]

Please see link, it has the numbers of swift carers close to you

Swift First Aid & Carers

Please take the swift in for the night and phone one of the numbers on the list. I think the closest on the list of first aiders for you is Northamptonshire?

Swifts should never be thrown in the air as it can cause serious damage to them.

If you have any problems, let me know and I will PM you my phone number.

[michael c]

I have two house martin nest at mine and it looks like the chicks i often find

[cara pace]

Originally Posted by RKB

I agree, it's got no chance on the ground. You need to get back to it asap and then launch it into the air. Hold it in your arms and give it a big underarm lob so that it rises up high, into the wind. It should be able to immediately fly. If it doesn't, then it hasn't got much chance, but you could put it high up on a wall.

It's likely that the swift was grounded by the bad weather (we've had hailstone today!) and it was exhausted. The problem with throwing them up into the wind is that the juvenile swift, once it takes flight, should be in the air around two years before it finally returns here to nest. If that swift is exhausted, it is quite likely to come crashing down again somewhere, causing potentially deadly consequences. Feather damage can stop a swift flying, and as they spend the majority of their lives in flight and do not perch like other birds, the end result would not be good. To launch a swift, the best way is to get to the top of a step ladder (or that sort of height). If the swift is ready to fly it will. If it is relunctant, it is not ready and it should not be thrown.

Smithie, the ticks are scary aren't they?! - Cretaerina Pallida - Swift Lousefly. They are host specific you'll be glad to hear! They suck around 25mg of blood over 5 days. Not too much of a problem in a healthy swift. Some have heavier burdens. you did well to catch them. They are fast!