On our morning walk, my neighbor discovered this little guy right by the curb. I've raised a couple of baby robins, but this little one is so small. He's eating and talking, a three-note chee, chee, chee.
Does anyone out there know what I have here? It's got a little tuft on its head and is a soft grey with lighter underside. Tufted Titmouse is a possibility, but I don't know for sure.
I've got him in the cat carrier out on the deck with a paper towel in a plastic bowl for a nest. He's very vocal, and he's been eating a little bit of the formula I used for raising the robins. It's supposed to be good for any orphaned birds.
There are many free roaming cats where I live, and many dogs are walked exactly where the little bird was found. I know sometimes the parents feed them on the ground if they fall out of the nest, but this one seems to have an injured foot. I am hoping I can save him. I guess if he makes it through the night, maybe there's a chance I'll be able to feed him until he can fly well enough to be set free.
I keep being given the opportunity to raise little birds a number of time since I've lived here. I've been successful in the past, but I'm wondering if I've done the right thing.
I feel sure a cat or dog would have gotten this little one because he was in such an exposed area, but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't have just put him up under a nearby hedge or something.
Can any knowledgeable bird person give me some help here? I can't bear to think of this little one being eaten by a cat. (Including my own.)