drferox:

Call a clinic rather than hoping a random stranger on hr Internet is going to be online.

This is for people’s future reference: 

Go look at the bird. If it seems dead, pick it up, gently, see if it’s breathing. Touch its eyes if it isn’t. If it’s not breathing and its eyes don’t respond, it’s dead. Bury it or place it in a bush somewhere. 

If it’s alive but seems dazed and isn’t really moving, put it somewhere quiet, away from predators. If there are a lot of stray cats around, bring it inside, put it somewhere dark, quiet, and enclosed so it can’t get into the rest of your house. Leave water next to it, make sure there’s a tiny bit of light, and leave it alone otherwise. Check on it in an hour or so. If it isn’t recovering, call a wildlife rescue clinic. If it’s fine, put it outside. Stunned birds are usually sitting upright, don’t try to move much, and don’t thrash. 

If it’s moving, but thrashing around, fluttering awkwardly along without seeming to be able to stand, or otherwise acting like it’s awake but sorta broken, carefully capture it and take it to a clinic. That could indicate brain damage. If you can’t take it to a clinic right away, bring it inside and put it in a cloth-lined box, closed, with water available. Give it an hour to see if it recovers, then, again, clinic. 

Always be careful handling wild birds. Expect it to scratch, peck, and bite. Be very careful of the wings, restraining them gently against the bird’s sides unless the wing seems injured. Do not squeeze the ribcage! Birds can’t breathe if you do that. Cup the bird in your hands, supporting its frame, without squeezing or applying any more pressure than is needed to keep the wings still. Don’t let it flap wildly or it can hurt itself. Do NOT let your cats, dogs, pets, or small children near it! Especially not animals, but also children. Older children can be shown the bird, quietly, but don’t pass it around for people to touch. Leave it alone as much as possible. If you need to transport it, line a box (cardboard is fine) with fabric, put the bird inside, and shut the box, it’ll stay calmer if you keep the box shut and the bird in complete darkness. 

Below is a pic of me holding a brain-damaged bluejay (probably ran into a car) in one of the ways you can hold a bird. One hand under it, one hand over it, carefully keeping the wings folded. You can also cup your hands with the bird sitting in them, press your palms gently to the sides, and put your thumbs on its back. Feet laid back, toes pointing towards the tail, are best unless one leg seems damaged. I took the bluejay to a wildlife rehabilitator, this photo was taken right before I put it in a box so we could carry it in the car. I never got an update, but the lady told me it had a decent chance, bluejays are tough. It was thrashing along the ground, flapping like it was flying but unable to get off the ground, and couldn’t pull its feet under itself for support. Apparently typical bird behavior when brain-damaged. The cat in the background was not responsible, she was checking out the smell.