What you have done is good to hold it temporarily (except the bread, get that out), but the best thing to do for the bird is to call some local vets and find an experienced wildlife rehabber to take it. I am sorry if it sounds imperious, but there are many things one needs to know for the good of the animal in question. Also, since it is classified as a migratory species, it is technically illegal for you to care for it without a license. You rock for caring enough to go this far, please go the rest of the way and get it to a bird rehab person.

(It was whole grain bread with sunflower seeds, not WonderJavexBread. Anyway, it's gone now.)

I've since bought a bird cage and some proper finch feed. Boy, he sure went after that stuff - scared or no!

Good idea about a wildlife rehabber, I was loathe to take it to a vet or the Humane Society, as they would probably merely dispose of it.

Turns out it does not have a broken wing at all. It has some sort of fleshy growth under its forearm. May have been there a long time.

One more thing I need to know until I get it into the proper hands: Will it get too cold overnight outside? It goes down to about 20C (65F) here. I've got a bathtowel to drape over the cage, but I don't know if it'll be too cold.

Here is a link that might be useful:

If it is a fully feathered adult it should be fine outside. I'd love a 65F night! The bread sounds yummy, sorry for assuming it was nasty white bread :) Weird on the growth thing! I'm glad someone like you found the little one. Keep us posted if you can.

p.s.s While few vets do any rehab work themselves, most (most) know who to call. I get 90% of my 'kids' from vets.

Offer birdseed and water and get it to a rehabber asap. Put the cage near light and cover the other half with a light cloth. It can hurt itself in the cage.

It is a wild bird. It belongs in the wild with its mate. Get it to someone who can rehab it. The longer you wait, the less chance the wing will heal correctly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Rehabber list

Phew. It survived the night outside. I raised the cage up from harm's way, and put a towel over it to keep drafts out.

(I, on the other hand, had a rough night, dreaming of coons and cats and rattelsnakes.)

I'm glad to hear it did OK. I am always nervous when the babies get moved to outdoor pens for the first time. It's easy to imagine all sorts of things :) Any luck on finding a rehabber?

A house finch with crimson on its head is not a youngster. It is an adult.

Elly, I wasn't talking about the bird when I said 'babies' I meant the orphans I've raised. They are all my kids - even when they are adults :)

Got it!

Dave, did you get it to a rehabber?

Yes. My 'Li'l Fren' is now officially known as Case# 05-2102 at the Toronto Wildlife Rehab Centre here in Toronto.

When the busy season is over, I'll be able to call and get a full report on his treatment and prognosis.
Otherwise, I will not see or hear anything about him until he is ready to be released (at which point, they will call me to allow me to be present - cool).

*sniff*

That's excellent! Do let us know when he gets released, please :)

I always tell people bringing me animals that they have to call too, I get too many to remember to call them. Good on you for letting him go (I know it's hard).

"Good on you for letting him go (I know it's hard). "

That's why I didn't give him a name.

Also, my wife hates birds, would never let me keep one. This is because, clearly, she is a robot.

It's not generally known that House Finches are not native to the Eastern US. They were introduced on Long Island in the 1940s as cage birds (called "Hollywood Finches"). Since then they have spread thoughout the US and Mexico.