# Any ideas of what this baby bird is - need answer FAST
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 14, 2014, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311 "2014-02-14T06:59:52Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/1 "2014-02-14T06:59:52Z")
Ok rescued this guy [http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515270573/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515270573/) from a busy road this arvo. Not a clue to what type of bird it is but it is too damn ugly for me to let it just die [http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515630334/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515630334/)
Location SW Riverina NSW Australia. It is about the size of 2 week old chicken has quite a lot of feathers but cannot fly. It is either dumb or suicidal because it went straight back on the road after I got it off. I would like some idea of what it is because I don’t want to call Wires ([http://www.wires.org.au/](http://www.wires.org.au/)) if it is a non native. Could it be a baby pigeon?
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### Author:  [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/2 "2014-02-14T07:01:42Z")
> [@madrabbitwoman](#):
>
> Ok rescued this guy [http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515270573/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515270573/) from a busy road this arvo. Not a clue to what type of bird it is but it is too damn ugly for me to let it just die [http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515630334/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/madrabbitwoman/12515630334/)
> Location SW Riverina NSW Australia. It is about the size of 2 week old chicken has quite a lot of feathers but cannot fly. It is either dumb or suicidal because it went straight back on the road after I got it off. I would like some idea of what it is because I don’t want to call Wires ([http://www.wires.org.au/](http://www.wires.org.au/)) if it is a non native. Could it be a baby pigeon?
Presently it is peeping and licking (seriously with its tongue) the sides of the box it is in. Maybe a honey eater???
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### Author:  [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/3 "2014-02-14T08:27:36Z")
It could be a pigeon (rock dove), but with that hooked beak, it’s very unusual. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t a deformed pigeon.
It’s been a long week, and I’ve been drinking (more accurately I am at the pub and \*am \*drinking) but can you get a photo of the toes, or describe them to us. Because I am thinking channel bill. If it hasn’t got the middle two toes facing forwards and the outer two facing back two back, that rules that out.
I would call WIRES anyway. At worst, they will euthanase a pigeon humanely, and it will then probably become food for one of their native raptors or qualls, which is the best thing a pigeon can possibly achieve in Australia.
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/4 "2014-02-14T22:22:37Z")
After thirty-eight years, at last somebody has found [a baby pigeon!](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/16/where-are-all-the-baby-pigeons)
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### Author:  [@hellasketchy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellasketchy)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/5 "2014-02-14T23:03:26Z")
[brush turkey chick?](https://www.google.com/search?q=brush+turkey+baby&espv=210&es_sm=91&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KqD-Ur2TH8ectQbBooDIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CD4QsAQ&biw=1316&bih=753#q=brush+turkey+chick&tbm=isch)
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### Author:  [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/6 "2014-02-14T23:35:08Z")
See the lump on each side of the beak ? Distinctive and sets it as the Rock Dove (a common pigeon) …
Here the rock doves have the hooked beak
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/59430955@N03/5664253857/in/photolist-9CwMkg-hgEoua-bM8LwB-cAiwA3-dxx6yQ-9jQA3h-epYM-81ooRQ-6qkTZa-7ZmKb4-4oPcsY-6csh9m-8YRTcV-e3aGeA-bW5MJc-RtpLg-bX8Zgf-8hyTZT-aiqcd1-7GCSFE-572Yx1-45Q7P-6BQ63V-9YdXjL-a87bRK-7gZXEy-9F2gmV-7bBq34-5SHRzq-6qcdrU-bw46KV-ggtPfU-8xyNvR-7ptFFG-e7my2u-8PqA3t-94YmK-4Ubd2V-2d3tp-jVcUHg-huyRzV-huxpz3-61zjPk-5Lyrhf-dVkq1r-gcTyVM-5QUCnF-7DrZdx-4dLkvw-bsnzdk-geLBJA](http://www.flickr.com/photos/59430955@N03/5664253857/in/photolist-9CwMkg-hgEoua-bM8LwB-cAiwA3-dxx6yQ-9jQA3h-epYM-81ooRQ-6qkTZa-7ZmKb4-4oPcsY-6csh9m-8YRTcV-e3aGeA-bW5MJc-RtpLg-bX8Zgf-8hyTZT-aiqcd1-7GCSFE-572Yx1-45Q7P-6BQ63V-9YdXjL-a87bRK-7gZXEy-9F2gmV-7bBq34-5SHRzq-6qcdrU-bw46KV-ggtPfU-8xyNvR-7ptFFG-e7my2u-8PqA3t-94YmK-4Ubd2V-2d3tp-jVcUHg-huyRzV-huxpz3-61zjPk-5Lyrhf-dVkq1r-gcTyVM-5QUCnF-7DrZdx-4dLkvw-bsnzdk-geLBJA)
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/7 "2014-02-14T23:37:56Z")
> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> After thirty-eight years, at last somebody has found [a baby pigeon!](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/16/where-are-all-the-baby-pigeons)
[Ahem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467835).
The photos in the OP do not look quite like [the baby pigeons that hatch on our balcony](http://www.flickr.com/photos/95197627@N05/). But maybe it’s a local variety?
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/8 "2014-02-14T23:43:37Z")
[Here’s one at 17 days](http://www.flickr.com/photos/95197627@N05/9224081660/). Looks about the same stage of development as in the OP.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [February 14, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/9 "2014-02-14T23:46:48Z")
It’s an Australian venomous pigeon (venenatis columbae et sub terra) Kill it with fire!
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### Author:  [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/10 "2014-02-15T00:26:20Z")
Turkey buzzard?
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/11 "2014-02-15T02:32:16Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#):
>
> [Ahem](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=467835).
Good heavens **Sam** , what a fascinating saga! I had no idea that thread even existed!
**madrabbitwoman** , that is definitely the go-to for all your pigeon procreation information needs.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/12 "2014-02-15T02:42:34Z")
> [@Kimstu](#):
>
> Good heavens **Sam** , what a fascinating saga! I had no idea that thread even existed!
>
> **madrabbitwoman** , that is definitely the go-to for all your pigeon procreation information needs.
The early photos online disappeared after the photo service I’d been using went down. But the Flickr link I posted earlier in this thread is good now.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/13 "2014-02-15T03:12:51Z")
As for the OP’s bird licking the side of the box, I’ve never seen any pigeon do that. Pecking yes. But not licking.
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### Author:  [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/14 "2014-02-15T04:52:49Z")
> [@hellasketchy](#):
>
> [brush turkey chick?](https://www.google.com/search?q=brush+turkey+baby&espv=210&es_sm=91&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=KqD-Ur2TH8ectQbBooDIDw&sqi=2&ved=0CD4QsAQ&biw=1316&bih=753#q=brush+turkey+chick&tbm=isch)
I assume this is a joke.
> [@Isilder](#):
>
> See the lump on each side of the beak ? Distinctive and sets it as the Rock Dove (a common pigeon) …
No it doesn’t. All doves have that feature, as do a great many other birds.
[Here is a grackle.](http://www.eastvalleywildlife.org/_images/grackle-nestling-2-2012.jpg) [Here is a cardinal](http://www.placeforwildbirds.org/card2.jpg).
> [@](#):
>
> Here the rock doves have the hooked beak.
Maybe they do, but they don’t in the photo you linked to. A hooked beak means the top beak is appreciably \*longer \*than the lower beak and finishes \*below \*it. you can see this quite clearly in the second photo in the OP. In the photo you linked to the top beak has a curve, but it is +/- the same length as the lower beak and finishes in line with it.
Pigeons do occasionally exhibit a [deformity that causes the beak to become hooked](http://www.pigeonrescue.co.uk/overgrownbeak.htm), but I didn’t think it could affect a bird that young.
> [@Lukeinva](#):
>
> Turkey buzzard?
That got caught up with a flock of shearwaters last autumn and migrated 2/3 of the way around the world.
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### Author:  [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/15 "2014-02-15T14:51:45Z")
Thanks guys - the poor little ugly bugger has gone to whatever reward common old flying rats go to. There are quite a few of them around here but somehow I had never come across a young un before.
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### Author:  [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/16 "2014-02-15T15:50:50Z")
RIP, little fella. ☹
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### Author:  [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2014, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/17 "2014-02-15T19:07:14Z")
Awww, poor little bugger.☹
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### Author:  [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2014, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-ideas-of-what-this-baby-bird-is-need-answer-fast/681311/18 "2014-02-17T21:55:14Z")
I know.I wasnt real happy about it myself. ☹