Baby not-a-pigeon

I just found this baby bird at sunset today:



It's not a pigeon, but I'm hoping someone can offer some advice on what I should do to help it. The baby was stuck at the bottom of some basement stairs, because it couldn't fly high enough to get out. I put it in an old aquarium with some seeds and water, but I don't know if its actually old enough to feed itself...

Any suggestions?

Is it possible to see a picture straight on?
It probably doesn't know how to eat on it's own and so you need to buy some dry kitten chow, soak a few pieces in hot water and when they are soft, you can cut them into pieces. The bird won't recognize you as mom or dad at first and so will will need to gently pry the break open with your finger nails and put pieces of the food at the back or the mouth over the throat. This is a bit more difficult than working with a Pigeon. Little birds like this have strong beaks and don't want to open them at first.
This baby will need to be fed about every hour until it is eating on it's own. Please only soak as much food as you will need for each feeding. If you have more questions, you can call me.

Cute picture, Jim. Is the bird Finch sized?

From the side shot, the bird looks like a Finch. From the front shot, the bird looks like a House Sparrow.

Do you see adults around that look like this...

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/House_sparrow/id

or these...
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_finch/id

Yes -- its tiny. Maybe 2.5 to 3 inches long.

Should I let it sleep right now, or try to feed it? I have some puppy chow -- would that work instead of kitten chow? Also, should I get a heating pad going?

It looks a little bit more like a sparrow than a finch. I've seen sparrows around, but not finches, so I guess I'd have to put my money on the sparrow option.

That is a young female house sparrow.

Yes...puppy chow will work. I'd put a towel on the bottom of the acquarium and something to perch on...stick...do you have any of those in Arizona? heating pad set on low...half under the acquarium so tthe babt can get away from the heat if she neeeds to. Yes you can wait until morning but you need to be ready at sun up.

NiteOwl wrote:

That is a young female house sparrow.

That's what I think too. I lived with one for 8 years, Jim. She was quite charming. Her name was Sparkle.

NiteOwl wrote:

That is a young female house sparrow.

I agree. :Yes:

Matilda wrote:

I'd put a towel on the bottom of the acquarium and something to perch on...stick...do you have any of those in Arizona?

Yes -- there are five. Fortunately, I own one of them...

I was talking about sticks...something to perch on.

Jim...you are just a bird magnet.

Actually, we only have three sticks here in Arizona, but I own one of those too.

I can always end you some...I have plenty.

Matilda wrote:

Jim...you are just a bird magnet.

Actually, I think it was just one bird that posted something on its Facebook page about how gullible I am, but that bird had a lot of friends, and they had a lot of friends, and so on...

... ... ...

Sure is a cute little one, Jim.

Matilda wrote:

and something to perch on...stick...do you have any of those in Arizona?

They're pretty rare around here. :That\\\'s so f

I'm going to send you all a bunch of sticks.

jimc2000 wrote:

Actually, we only have three sticks here in Arizona, but I own one of those too.

And I own one. And I bet Jenn owns the third one.

This info may help you:

http://www.starlingtalk.com/babycare.htm

I used their advices with my Olive Trush.