As the title suggests I have a blackbird that frequents the garden that is in a very sorry state. As the photo shows, is has lost basically all its tail feathers and, presumably as a result of the lack of feathers, his legs are heavily cover in what looks to be excrement. He’s also got very thin, soiled feathers on his breast. I know blackbirds often look pretty scruffy this time of year but this is the worst state I’ve ever seen one in.
He’s still able to fly as he’s able to get up to my window bird feeder, but I’d still like to know if there’s anything that can be done/I can do for this poor boy, or do I just have to hope his feathers grow back?
Hi, I have one exactly the same. Except mine has a broken leg. Or a really sore leg. I've been trying to protect him at all costs away from the cats on the estate and he's quite happy living at the bottom of our garden. He can also fly but he's been jumping more than flying. But ours looks exactly like this one and I just feel helpless. I know they moult at this time of the year but ours kind of let out a sad scared noise when the magpies landed next to him. Of course I'm making sure he is fine and scaring the bigger ones off. I'm even feeding him before any of the others. I really hope they can both get through this moult or if it is other birds,, I hope they grow their feathers back. Here is my little friend. His back end is exactly the same as your little friends. I worry about the garden birds too much. So I really hope it's just a case of moulting badly and they'll be able to fly properly again soon. I've also noticed ours has perked up a bit from when I first saw him like this which makes me think other birds had him Xx
As you can see, he does struggle but we tried to make it easier for him to get up and down. He also knows I put food behind that panel so he gets the chance to have it before the others see.
Glad to see my one isn’t alone with the very scruffy look! Must just be a really bad moulting season for the pair of them. As for an update for mine, he’s still pretty grubby and definitely in need of a good wash but his tail feathers have started to finally grow back! He definitely isn’t 100% in terms of overall health as the other day I was able to get pretty close to him on the floor before he flapped away, but he’s still got a bit of fight in him as he’ll try shoo away the other birds (mostly starlings) that come to my feeder, though with little success as a lot of them ignore him. Fingers crossed your one gets better with his leg, and that we both have beautiful blackbirds back in the near future!
Aww I'm glad yours is starting to grow his tail feathers back. Ours doesn't seem to be growing back yet but watching him every day and he seems to be still going stronger. I think having a little stash of mealworm, fat balls and crushed kitten biscuits is keeping his strength up. Ours is also the same with the other birds. However, he doesn't seem to do it to the starlings? I think they're mayb a bit more threatening to him as we have loads visit. So I think our starlings sound like yours. But he'll quite happily tell the other blackbirds that his stash is his and not theirs. I do tend tostay next to him to make sure he gets it though. I just wish there was more I can do for him. I know he has a poorly leg but I don't want to take him to a rescue where he might just die of stress. He's quite happy but my neighbours cat is an absolute beep and even though I've sprayed him with water etc, he still goes in that corner. He knows there's a bird living there. But I just wish I could protect him more but he lives in the neighbours behind us hedge so I can't really fence that off. But I hope your little blackbird friend makes a full recovery too ️
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