Birds colliding with windows is an unfortunate but common occurrence. Windows can appear invisible to birds in flight, and the resulting collisions often leave them injured or even dead. For birds that survive an impact, the next question is how long the recovery process takes. The answer depends on several factors.
What Happens When a Bird Hits a Window
When a bird collides with a window pane, the impact typically causes blunt force trauma. The severity depends on the size and speed of the bird, as well as the angle of impact. Injuries can range from minor bruising to concussions, fractures, ruptured air sacs, and other forms of internal bleeding. Small songbirds often die instantly from collisions. Larger birds like pigeons or gulls may survive initially but sustain injuries that need time to heal.
Factors That Influence Recovery Time
The most important factor is the extent of the bird’s injuries. Mild bruising may take a few days to heal, while a concussion or fractured bone could take weeks or longer. Other factors include:
- Size of the bird – Smaller birds tend to have more fragile bones that are prone to severe breaks.
- Age of the bird – Younger birds have higher metabolism and may heal faster.
- Species of bird – Some species are heartier and more resilient than others.
- Quality of rehabilitation care – Proper veterinary treatment speeds recovery.
Let’s examine how these different factors can affect the bird’s recovery timeline.
Recovery Time Based on Injury Severity
Mild Injuries
For birds that suffer only mild bruising or soft tissue trauma from a window collision, recovery is usually rapid. With adequate rest and care, they can bounce back within several days. Mild injuries include:
- Bruising
- Strained muscles
- Mild inflammation
In these cases, the bird needs to be monitored for signs of internal bleeding and infection, which could develop into more serious issues. Assuming it remains stable, its body should heal naturally within about 3-5 days. Limited movement curbs activity that could exacerbate the injuries. The bird can gradually return to normal activity as the bruising and swelling subside. Full recovery takes about a week.
Moderate Injuries
Moderate injuries that need more recovery time include:
- Concussions
- Sprains and strains of joints/ligaments
- Minor fractures
With a window collision, concussions are a common moderate injury due to the blunt force trauma to the head. The same goes for sprains and minor fractures, which often result from the bird’s body being hurled against the window.
These injuries take the body longer to repair itself. Concussions resolve as swelling in the brain decreases and symptoms like headache, dizziness, and confusion subside. This can take 1-2 weeks. Sprains and minor fractures also generally take 1-2 weeks to stabilize as inflammation dies down and new bone tissue forms.
During recovery, the bird needs extended rest and restricted activity. Once the injuries have partly healed, light exercise can help rebuild strength and balance. But strenuous activity could reinjure the affected areas. Complete recovery can take 2-4 weeks.
Severe Injuries
The most severe injuries, like significant fractures, lacerations, ruptured air sacs, or internal bleeding, can take much longer to heal. These include:
- Broken wings or legs
- Punctured lungs
- Severely concussed
- Damage to organs
Such traumatic injuries require immediate veterinary treatment to stabilize the bird and repair the damage. For fractures, concussions, and internal bleeding, medications, splints, surgery, and extended rest are needed. Birds must avoid any activity that engages the injured areas until they fully knit back together.
For instance, a broken wing or leg takes 4-8 weeks minimum to heal to the point where the bird can resume normal movement. Physical therapy helps rebuild lost muscle strength and range of motion. But it’s a gradual process, especially for major fractures. Total recovery realistically takes 2-3 months.
Recovery Time Based on Bird Size
The size of the bird also influences its recovery time. Larger birds tend to have more resilient bone structure compared to smaller songbirds. They can withstand higher impact forces from colliding with windows. As such, their injuries tend to be less severe relative to their body size.
Small birds like sparrows and finches are much more vulnerable to severe, often fatal, injuries from any window strike due to their delicate lightweight bones and tiny bodies. For example, a fractured leg is more likely to fully shatter the slender leg bones of a sparrow versus a pigeon or gull. Therefore, smaller birds require longer recovery times from moderate or serious injuries.
Here are some estimates based on general bird sizes:
Bird Size | Examples | Typical Recovery Time |
---|---|---|
Small | Sparrows, finches | 2-4 weeks moderate injury 4-6 weeks serious injury |
Medium | Pigeons, blackbirds | 1-2 weeks moderate injury 3-4 weeks serious injury |
Large | Seagulls, ravens, crows | 5-10 days moderate injury 2-3 weeks serious injury |
The larger the bird, the quicker their recovery time. Being heavier and sturdier by nature, they can take more collision force before sustaining major trauma. While not invincible to injury, their size does offer an advantage for recovering compared to fragile songbirds.
Recovery Time Based on Bird Age
Younger birds generally bounce back faster than mature birds due to their growing bodies. Younger ages correspond with higher metabolism, faster cell regeneration, and increased bone strength as they reach adult size. The ability to heal decreases gradually with age.
Here are the general recovery timeframes based on age:
Bird Age | Typical Recovery Time |
---|---|
Nestling | 2-3 weeks moderate injury 4-5 weeks serious injury |
Fledgling | 1-2 weeks moderate injury 3-4 weeks serious injury |
Juvenile | 5-10 days moderate injury 2-3 weeks serious injury |
Adult | 2-4 weeks moderate injury 4-6 weeks serious injury |
Senior | 3-5 weeks moderate injury 6-8 weeks serious injury |
As the tables shows, the youngest nestlings and fledglings may take just slightly longer to heal than juvenile birds. But once birds reach mature adulthood and old age, their recovery times increase significantly. Their bones become more brittle and regeneration processes decelerate. Healing broken bones, ligament injuries, or damaged organs takes much longer as their bodies decline.
Recovery Time Based on Species
Some bird species tend to be heartier and more resilient when recovering from window strike injuries. Species with sturdier builds, thicker breast bones, muscular frames, and other protective physical traits can bounce back quicker. Small songbirds and birds with hollow, fragile bones are slower to recover.
Here are typical recovery times based on species categories:
Species Category | Examples | Typical Recovery Time |
---|---|---|
Small songbirds | Finches, sparrows, wrens | 2-4 weeks moderate injury 4-6 weeks serious injury |
Pigeons and doves | Rock pigeons, mourning doves | 1-2 weeks moderate injury 3-4 weeks serious injury |
Raptors | Hawks, eagles, falcons | 5-10 days moderate injury 2-3 weeks serious injury |
Shorebirds | Seagulls, terns, puffins | 5-10 days moderate injury 2-3 weeks serious injury |
Waterfowl | Ducks, geese, swans | 1-2 weeks moderate injury 3-4 weeks serious injury |
The heartier water birds and birds of prey tend to recovery more swiftly than songbirds and pigeons. Their physical traits give them added resilience. But the unique attributes of each species can defy simple categorization. Much depends on the specifics of the impact and the individual bird’s constitution.
Recovery Time Based on Rehabilitation Care
The speed and fullness of a bird’s recovery depends heavily on the care it receives after being injured. With proper rehabilitation, most birds can bounce back well, even from severe window strike trauma. Key aspects of care include:
Veterinary Treatment
Birds need quick veterinary assessment and treatment after window collisions. Diagnostic tests identify the types and severity of injuries while x-rays or CT scans check for fractures and internal bleeding. Birds may require stitches for lacerations, splinting of broken bones, antibiotic medications, intravenous fluids, pain medications, and other medical care. Prompt veterinary attention greatly aids recovery.
Secure and Calm Housing
Injured birds need a quiet space to rest and recuperate, away from stressors and risks of reinjury. This may involve housing at a veterinary clinic or wildlife rehabilitation center. The setting should allow the bird to move about while preventing overexertion. Soft bedding and perches help prevent pressure injuries. Low lighting and minimal noise reduce stress. Handlers must provide adequate food, clean water, and proper medications on schedule. Such supportive care aids the healing process.
Physical Therapy
For injuries like fractures and sprains, physical therapy helps birds regain strength, flexibility, and range of motion as they mend. This involves structured exercise routines and massage techniques. As mobility returns, physical therapy eases the transition back to normal activity and flight. It prevents complications like permanent stiffness. Therapy must progress gradually to avoid overtaxing healing bones and tissues. But it greatly speeds recovery when applied properly under avian veterinary guidance.
Flight Training
Before birds can be safely released after window collisions, they may need help redeveloping flight skills weakened by injury. Flight cages allow room for takeoff and landing practice. Handlers can use techniques like tossing birds gently into the air to aid muscle memory. The birds rebuild confidence flying over short distances until ready for release. This final step is key for wild birds to successfully return to the open outdoors after rehabilitation.
Conclusion
How long it takes for a bird to recover from hitting a window depends greatly on the severity of injury as well as the species, age, size, and care the bird receives during rehabilitation. Under supportive human care, most birds can fully recover from moderate injuries within 2-4 weeks and from more serious trauma in 4-8 weeks. Younger, larger, and heartier birds tend to have shorter recovery times. But every bird is different. With appropriately prompt and compassionate care, even the most vulnerable and delicate species can find their wings again after a painful window collision.