What Do Fledgling Birds Eat?

This time of year, birds are busy taking care of their young. One of the main ways they provide for them is by feeding them. But what do fledgling birds eat? When you see adult birds at your feeder or foraging for insects in the leaf litter, you might wonder how much of that food is for their young.

Fledglings are birds that have officially left the nest, but that doesn’t always mean they’re completely on their own. While they are able to find some food by themselves, their parents may continue to feed them. It all depends on the bird species.

In this guide, we’ll learn what fledgling birds eat, from the moment they’re little chicks to when they are off on their own. We’ll also discuss what a fledgling is, what you should do if you find one, and what food (if any) to provide for them.

What is a Fledgling?

Before we learn “what do fledgling birds eat?” It’s important to distinguish what fledglings are. There are many developmental stages in a bird’s life. After they hatch from the egg and are still in the nest, they are considered ‘hatchlings.’

Once they start to grow, but are still in the nest, they are ‘nestlings.’ Some nestlings, especially waterfowl, leave the nest within one to two days after hatching and immediately start foraging for food.

Most other bird species, such as songbirds, raise their young in the nest for about two weeks. Birds of prey stay in the nest much longer, ranging from about a month for kestrels to 10-12 weeks for bald eagles.

When a nestling is old enough to leave the nest, it “fledges,” which is why it’s then called a fledgling. In general, fledglings can fly short distances and will follow their parents around. The parents still feed them for about one to two weeks after they fledge. During this time, fledglings learn how to find food and survive on their own.

What do Fledgling Birds Eat?

Fledgling birds eat a variety of foods; it all depends on the species. By the time they fledge, fledglings typically begin eating a more diverse diet compared to when they were nestlings. This is because they can now forage on their own while also continuing to receive food from their parents.

Most songbird nestlings eat a protein-rich diet of insects, caterpillars, and worms. This helps them develop quickly and begin growing their adult feathers. During nesting, parent birds feed their young frequently, sometimes as often as every 10 to 20 minutes.

By the time they fledge, they aren’t eating quite as often, but their diet is still mainly protein-rich insects. A fledgling’s diet isn’t always exactly the same as the adult bird’s diet.

For instance, cedar waxwings mostly eat berries and some insects, but they will feed their nestlings an insect-dominant diet for the first few days after hatching. Then, they gradually introduce other foods until the chicks fledge and forage alongside their parents. During this time, the adult cedar waxwings still provide insects so that the fledglings can continue to develop properly.

What do Fledgling Birds Eat: Examples

Because there is much variation in what fledgling birds eat, here are some specific examples of fledgling diets across different bird species:

• American Robin: Mostly worms and insects, including spiders, snails, and other invertebrates.
• American Goldfinch: Unlike other fledglings, American Goldfinch young are fed a seed-dominant diet.
• Canada Goose: Fledglings feed themselves after hatching. They primarily eat plant materials, including aquatic plants, along with small insects and crustaceans.
• Hummingbirds: Fed regurgitated nectar and small insects, including spiders, mosquitoes, and gnats.
• Bald Eagle: Parents provide food to the fledglings for several weeks while they learn to fly and hunt. Their diet includes fish, small mammals, and carrion.
• Great Horned Owl: According to Audubon Field Guide, “Young may leave nest and climb on nearby branches at 5 weeks, can fly at about 9-10 weeks; tended and fed by parents for up to several months.” They are fed a diet of small prey, including mice, squirrels, snakes, and rabbits.

What to do if you find a Fledgling

If you’re wondering, “What do fledgling birds eat?” because you’ve found one in your yard, the first important step is to determine if it’s actually a fledgling. A fledgling will have most of its mature feathers. It will probably still look different than the adult, but it shouldn’t have the fuzzy down or bare skin that nestlings have.

If the bird you’ve found is indeed a fledgling, it’s best to leave it be. The parents are most likely nearby and will continue to care for it.

If the fledgling appears ill or injured, contact a wildlife rehabilitation facility near you. Move the bird, if necessary, to a safer location away from pets or predators. The wildlife rehabilitators you contact can guide you on how to best keep the bird safe while you wait for their assistance.

If the bird you found is a nestling, it’s best to return it to its nest if possible. It is a myth that touching a baby bird will cause the parents to reject it. Just be sure to wear gloves and handle it very gently. I recommend checking out the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association guide, which provides pictures and step-by-step instructions for what to do if you find a baby bird.

In the instance that the nestling is injured or sick, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center. You can move the baby bird to a safe location and, if necessary, feed it hydrated or live mealworms or moistened cat or dog food. Do not feed it processed food, bread, or milk.

Final Thoughts

It’s normal to be curious about “what do fledgling birds eat” when wanting to help a baby bird. But most of the time, the parents are nearby and will continue to care for it. If you have any doubts about what you should do, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for help.

On their own, fledgling birds eat a variety of food. Songbirds eat mostly insects, seeds, and berries, while other fledglings—such as owlets—will eat mice and squirrels. It all depends on the species.

What’s your experience with fledgling birds? Have you ever had to help or feed a baby bird in need? Tell us your story in the comments below!