What causes a baby sparrow to scratch its head and fall over?

Small nail clippers can be used to take the points off. Sandpaper perch covers or concrete perches can be used to maintain length. Consider an exam with your veterinarian or an experienced avian vet to diagnose mites or skin infection. Bathe or mist with warm water once or twice weekly to promote preening and healthy plumage.

It could be the baby bird is attempting to learn how to fly which is why he flutters to the ground. In some locations it is not legal to care for a wild animal, so it is best to try and find a wildlife rehabilitation center in your area that can properly care for the sparrow and help him be prepared for release back into the wild once he is healthy enough.

It is possible he/she may have aspirated some food into the lungs. This can lead to respiratory infection or even pneumonia. The bird should be examined by a wildlife veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating birds.

Scratching can be for a very large number of reasons including normal molting (which will result in the loss of feathers, which you may be seeing, and the growing in of new ones, or pin-looking feathers poking out of the skin), mites or other parasites on the skin, allergies, nutritional issues, infections, and more. Taking a look under the feathers for any signs of pin feathers can let you know if this is a normal molt. Some whitish debris is normal (bird dander) however if you are seeing lots of flecks of "stuff", redness, visible parasites, etc, then it can indicate mites or lice which should be treated with a spray. If you are seeing visible wounds, redness, injuries, etc, it could indicate a wound, infection, or allergy which should be examined by and treated by a vet in your area. Allergies may also be treatable by ensuring the cage and environment around Sugar are kept clean and dust-free. Nutritional issues and illness may also cause scratching, however you may see other problems such as changes in weight, eating or drinking habits, stool, behavior, etc in addition to scratching. If you suspect this may be the case, having a vet take a look is best.

You can mist him with warm water to encourage preening. This will promote healthy plunage. If he continues to itch, it may due to mites or infection. These would require an exam with your veterinarian for confirmation. Mites can be treated with an over the counter spray. Read labels v\carefully to confirm the chosen product can be used on birds. Clean and sanitize the cage, bowls, perches and toys. Discard anything that cannot be sanitized. Change the cage paper daily. If an infection (bacterial or fungal) is diagnosed, your vet can prescribe the appropriate medication.

There are a lot of reasons why a bird may have trouble perching including nails that need trimming, perches that are the wrong sizes (usually too small or narrow), muscular or neurologic issues, age, deformities, illness, etc. It is always a good first step to schedule a vet checkup and rule out any more serious causes first. If Haru checks out healthy, making sure he's on a balanced diet can help keep him strong and fit. You may also want to add in some larger perches where he doesn't have to curl his toes all the way around as it may help with balance. Adding in a flat shelf platform to sleep on can also help make sure he stays comfortable while asleep without falling off the person. Making sure all of his food and water dishes are easy to get into and out of can also help if he has trouble getting around.

Thanks for reaching out about Tiekie. Feather picking behavior can be a physical ailment or psychological. Loss of phonation (voice) is concerning as a possible tracheal foreign body (infection, seed, etc). and should be investigated by a veterinarian. Check and correct any dietary deficiencies (birds need more than seed). Protein, vitamin A and calcium deficiencies can all lead to weak feather that break and fall out easier. Good luck.