On Thu, 16 Nov 1995, Patricia Kain wrote:

> Saw a Dark-eyed Junco on the sidewalk a few days ago. It was still warm,
> but lifeless. When I moved it the neck appeared broken.

Small, and rather unpoetic comment here - despite appearances, the neck
was probably not broken. Birds in life (and just after) have remarkably
limber necks. If you happen to pick one up just after it meets it's
demise, the head will move very freely - not at all like mammals with
which we are perhaps more familiar in hand.

This is perhaps somewhat relevant to PK's question, below, because if one
picked up a window stunned bird and diagnosed it with a broken neck, there
would be no hope of recovery. Since almost all windowbangers suffer
concussions, and, in more serious cases, internal bleeding in the brain,
but NOT broken necks, there is hope for recovery in the milder cases. I
believe standard advice is to put the affected bird in a dark quiet place
(a paper shopping bag with the top folded over is about right), and give
it a while to recover.

I have to guess that such measures would only be useful for birds that
still showed signs of consciousness, though. I have never heard of a bird
that was limp and unconscious ever recovering consciousness,
unfortunately. For what it's worth.


Chris Hill
cehill at u.washington.edu


My question is
> how is one to determine if a bird is stunned after running into a window,
> for example, or has expired (when it still is warm). It was so beautiful up
> close. Advice would be welcomed. Thanks, Patty
>
>