First, the honest part
Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine warns that an escaped bird is often disoriented and frightened, and that this fear and confusion make its return or capture very unlikely. VCA's veterinarians say that once a bird escapes, it is usually very difficult to get it back home.
That is not a reason to give up. It is the reason to start right now, and to tell as many people as you can, as fast as you can.
Sources: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, "General Husbandry of Caged Birds"; VCA Animal Hospitals, "Household Hazards and Dangers to Birds"
The first hour
Keep your eyes on your bird for as long as you can, and note exactly where you last saw it and which way it went.
- Stay calm and move slowly. Purdue's veterinarians note that birds often take flight when frightened by a sudden movement or a loud noise, so shouting, chasing or waving your arms can drive it further away.
- Look up. Check trees, roofs, gutters, balconies and wires near where it got out, and listen: a bird you can't see may still be calling.
- Don't assume a clipped bird can't fly. VCA's veterinarians say never to assume a bird cannot fly, because clipped feathers grow back, and Purdue notes that many birds regain full flight with as few as one or two regrown flight feathers.
- If it lands within reach and is used to stepping up, calmly offer your hand or a familiar perch instead of grabbing. A grab that misses can frighten it into flying again.
- Close the windows and doors at home and keep other pets inside, so there isn't a second escape during the search.
Sources: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, "General Husbandry of Caged Birds"; VCA Animal Hospitals, "Wing Clipping"
Why the weather matters
A healthy bird's feathers insulate it well: Purdue's veterinarians note that ordinary drafts are usually inconsequential to healthy pet birds. But they also warn that sick birds are less able to control the loss of body heat and are vulnerable to chilling, and VCA advises keeping a sick bird at the upper end of its normal environmental temperature, 75–80°F (22–25°C).
In Philadelphia and South Jersey, the normal overnight low at Philadelphia International Airport is about 61°F in September, 49°F in October and 39°F in November. We could not find a reliable source that gives a temperature an escaped pet bird can survive, so we won't guess at one. A bird that has spent a night or more outside has been under stress and may be chilled, and it needs a vet check once it is back.
Sources: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, "General Husbandry of Caged Birds"; VCA Animal Hospitals, "Nursing Care for Sick Pet Birds"; National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly, climate normals for Philadelphia International Airport (1991–2020)
Tell the people nearby
The ASPCA's advice for any lost pet applies to birds too: call your local animal control, veterinary hospitals, shelters and rescue groups, visit the shelters in person with photos, and put up flyers with a clear, recent photo. The ASPCA suggests posting flyers at pet supply stores and veterinary offices, and around the place you think your pet was lost.
You can also post an alert on Petside's Lost & Found. Choose Bird as the species, add the kind (a cockatiel, say, or an African grey) in the breed field, and add up to five photos, the place it was last seen and anything distinctive, such as a leg band or words it says. Anyone can browse the alerts, filter them by species and by a radius of 5 to 100 miles, and add a sighting. People nearby who have lost & found notifications turned on are told when a pet goes missing near them. Posting needs a free account.
Petside is only just getting started in Philadelphia and South Jersey, so use it alongside your calls and flyers, not instead of them.
Sources: ASPCA, "Finding a Lost Pet"
Found a pet bird?
A parrot, cockatiel or budgie that lets you come close is very likely someone's pet. If you can do it safely, bring it into a quiet, warm room away from other pets, close the windows and doors, and report it as found: on Petside's Lost & Found, and to your local animal control or shelter.
Be careful with your hands. The CDC notes that a bird's beak can cause serious injuries and that germs can spread through bites and scratches, and advises washing your hands with soap and water after touching a bird or anything from its cage.
Have it seen by a veterinarian who treats birds. The Association of Avian Veterinarians advises shelters that every found bird be examined by a veterinarian, because stress and capture injuries are common, and its Find-A-Vet directory lists avian vets. If you drive it there in cold weather, VCA suggests warming the car first and covering the carrier with a towel or blanket.
If it is a wild bird rather than a pet, your local shelter may not have wildlife rehabilitators on staff; the ASPCA points to wildlife rehabilitators instead.
Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Birds" (Healthy Pets, Healthy People); Association of Avian Veterinarians, "Guide for Shelters Caring for Surrendered/Found Birds"; Association of Avian Veterinarians, "Find-A-Vet"; VCA Animal Hospitals, "Transporting Your Bird"; ASPCA, "Did You Find a Stray or Injured Bird, Squirrel or Rabbit?"
Once it's home: making the next escape less likely
When your bird is back, a few habits help keep it that way.
- Keep windows and outer doors closed while your bird is out, or talk to your avian vet about a wing trim. VCA's veterinarians recommend one or the other.
- If your bird is clipped, keep the clip up to date. VCA notes that wings typically need clipping every 1–3 months after a molt begins, and advises checking them regularly, because even a couple of new feathers can give a bird the lift it needs.
- Have your vet do the clip, or show you how. VCA and Purdue both warn that clipping only one wing unbalances the bird, and VCA notes that growing "blood feathers" bleed heavily if they are cut.
- Keep your bird in its cage when no one is watching. Purdue's veterinarians advise confining a bird to its cage while its owner is away.
- Keep clear, recent photos of your bird on your phone, so a flyer or alert takes minutes.
Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals, "Household Hazards and Dangers to Birds"; VCA Animal Hospitals, "Wing Clipping"; Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, "General Husbandry of Caged Birds"
See an avian vet
Once your bird is home, have it checked by an avian veterinarian, even if it seems fine. VCA's veterinarians explain that birds instinctively hide signs of weakness, so by the time a bird looks unwell it has likely been sick for several days to weeks.
Call sooner if you see ruffled feathers, a change in appetite or behavior, labored or open-mouth breathing, or the tail bobbing with each breath. Those are among the signs of illness VCA lists.
Until the appointment, VCA suggests keeping a recovering bird warm, at 75–80°F (22–25°C), on its normal day and night light cycle, and away from other birds.
Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals, "Recognizing the Signs of Illness in Pet Birds"; VCA Animal Hospitals, "Nursing Care for Sick Pet Birds"; Association of Avian Veterinarians, "Find-A-Vet"
Questions people ask
- Will my bird come back on its own?
- Sometimes, but don't count on it. Purdue's veterinarians say fear and confusion make the return or capture of an escaped bird very unlikely, so search, tell the people nearby and post alerts straight away.
- My bird's wings are clipped. Can it still fly away?
- It may. VCA's veterinarians say never to assume a bird cannot fly, because clipped feathers grow back, and Purdue notes that one or two regrown flight feathers can be enough for full flight.
- How long can a pet bird survive outside?
- There is no reliable number, and anyone who gives you one is guessing. It depends on the weather, the shelter it finds and its health. Start searching straight away, and have an avian vet check your bird once it is found.
- What should I do if I find a pet bird?
- If you can do it safely, bring it into a quiet, warm room away from other pets, close the windows and doors, and report it as found on Petside's Lost & Found and to your local animal control or shelter. Mind its beak, wash your hands after handling it, and have it seen by an avian vet.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Every pet is different: if you are worried about your animal's health, talk to a veterinarian who treats that species.