Will parent birds smell your hands?
Birds have a functional sense of smell, and some species use scent very well. It is still incorrect to say a parent will reject a chick simply because it smells like a person.
The myth may have started as a way to stop people from disturbing nests. Leaving nests alone is good advice, but the smell explanation is not.
When brief handling can help
A sparsely feathered nestling that fell from an accessible nest can usually be placed back. A healthy fledgling in a road or other immediate danger can be moved a short distance to nearby cover.
Use clean hands or gloves, hold the bird gently, and finish quickly. Do not squeeze its chest. Then step well away so the parents can return.
When not to pick up a baby bird
Do not pick up a healthy feathered fledgling just because it is on the ground or flying poorly. That is often a normal part of growing up.
Do not handle eggs, open a nest for a better view, or repeatedly move young birds for photographs. Distance protects the birds and reduces the chance of attracting predators to the nest.
What if the bird is injured?
If the bird is bleeding, cold, weak, unable to stand, or was caught by a cat, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator or local wildlife authority. Do not try to hand-raise or medically treat it yourself.
Use the practical guide to what to do when you find a baby bird to separate a normal fledgling from a nestling or injured bird.
Frequently asked questions
Will a mother bird reject a baby touched by a human?
Usually no. Parent birds commonly resume care after a nestling is returned.
Can you put a baby bird back in the nest?
Yes, when it is a nestling, you can identify and safely reach the correct nest, and the bird is not badly injured.
Can children hold a fledgling?
No. Keep children and pets away so the young bird can stay calm and its parents can approach.
Related baby-bird guides
Learn the difference between a nestling and fledgling, see when baby birds leave the nest, and avoid trying to provide baby-bird food yourself.