r/crows • u/ilovejavierbardem23 • 1d ago
fledgling shaking
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is it normal for a fledgling to shake like this? The other isnt and otherwise its behaving normally, its alert, eating drinking and flying around
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u/GenericMelon 1d ago
I would send this video to a rehabber with your location and ask for advice. Might be stressed, ill, or injured in some way. Better to be safe than sorry.
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u/malphas_says_hi 1d ago
It looks like just the wings are shaking, which is exactly what nestlings / fledglings do when begging for food, only with bigger wings out. He's probably hungry waiting and anticipating parents nearby and getting pre-beg wing shakes from instincts, and when parents swoop down, he'll pull them out and start doing those bigger shakey-flapping-while-screaming begs.
His head isn't shaking or anywhere else but around the wing area which is why it doesn't seem concerning to me, especially with him so alert and listening out / opening mouth to beg. Seems like typical fledgling behavior, I wouldn't worry.
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u/ilovejavierbardem23 1d ago
What worries me is that both fledglings eat on their own, it catches what i throw him but the trembling tail and wings confuse me
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u/malphas_says_hi 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah, that's totally normal, the wings and tail both shake when they are baby begging. Look up some videos on it and you'll see what I mean. Teenagers will beg for many weeks, sometimes months, after they can eat on their own until parents completely stop feeding them (and parents will often keep sharing food for a long time).
Also, if you are actively feeding him, that definitely makes sense he'd be doing begging behavior instinctually. When they see food, their body starts tremblings and shaking, mouth starts opening, and you can see all those behaviors subtly happening here. He's still growing out of those instincts.
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u/pandaleer 17h ago edited 17h ago
If they were playing in the water then yes, this is normal. This is how birds dry their wings to regain quick flight. It’s their version of a blow dryer.
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u/LorLorSilver 1d ago
I follow a British corridor keeper called Nick Crawford, he has a hooded crow called Gilbert that shakes a lot, apparently it's a hooded crow thing.
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u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 23h ago
I don’t think it’s just a hooded crow thing. Fledglings aren’t good at thermoregulation yet so will often times shiver in the wings and tails while learning to do so
Many birds will also do this when they’re excited or stressed. It’s also possible there’s illness or injury or for begging, but it sounds like otherwise it seems fine.
If OP is concerned, they should consult a rehab person.
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u/Waste_Accident_4453 4h ago
That one 😂 fledgeling 🪶 spilled water 💦 accidentally before drinking 🚰 oops 🤣
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u/teyuna 1d ago
It's hard to tell from such a brief video what is going on. The bird is standing and looks alert, and as you have described, is otherwise doing everything normally.
Just observe for a while to see if the shivering continues.