Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I live in So. Calif and have recently moved in with my mom (who is having health problems). She has had a hummingbird feeder for years, and I've taken over the tasks involving feeding, maintenance, etc. I also spend alot of time sitting on the front porch where the feeder is located. About a week ago, I was on the porch early in the morning and saw a hummingbird sitting on the perch of the feeder, that seemed to be sick. He was puffed up
and it looked like he was having trouble swallowing and/or breathing. It looked like he was trying to get his tongue to go back into his mouth, but it seemed to be "stuck". He appeared to
drink some of the nectar, and flew to a nearby Bottlebrush tree, where I lost sight of him. An hour or so later, I spotted him on the outer branch of the bottle brush and he looked a little better, though still puffy and his chest still heaving a bit. When he flew off, I noticed that his wings were beating for several seconds before he actually left the branch - different from the usual take-offs I've witnessed. I didn't see him again.
This is the third or fourth bird I've seen in this condition since the beginning of August. Does anyone have any info they can share about this? I sure would appreciate anything at all.

Thank you for posting. I found a couple of links for you that will answer your questions. It appears the birds are ill, and perhaps these Websites will help to determine what to do.

http://www.projectwildlife.org/find-hummingbirds.htm

http://www.wbu.com/edu/hummer.htm

Please keep us updated on the hummingbirds. Hope they recover from their
illness.

>>I live in So. Calif and have recently moved in with my mom (who is having health problems). She has had a hummingbird feeder for years, and I've taken over the tasks involving feeding, maintenance, etc. I also spend alot of time sitting on the front porch where the feeder is located. About a week ago, I was on the porch early in the morning and saw a hummingbird sitting on the perch of the feeder, that seemed to be sick. He was puffed up and it looked like he was having trouble swallowing and/or breathing. It looked like he was trying to get his tongue to go back into his mouth, but it seemed to be "stuck". He appeared to drink some of the nectar, and flew to a nearby Bottlebrush tree, where I lost sight of him. An hour or so later, I spotted him on the outer branch of the bottle brush and he looked a little better, though still puffy and his chest still heaving a bit. When he flew off, I noticed that his wings were beating for several seconds before he actually left the branch - different from the usual take-offs I've witnessed. I didn't see him again.
This is the third or fourth bird I've seen in this condition since the beginning of August. Does anyone have any info they can share about this? I sure would appreciate anything at all.
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Canarymom

Finches: Melanie, Fritz, Casey, Sandi, Bunkie, and Sarah
Canary: Paulie
Budgies: Sammy, Curaco, and Pablo
Cockatiels: Elmo, Andy, Cleo, and Marley
And
My Rainbow Bridge Flock who are now singing in that other World

Canarymom, thank you for the links. I'll check them out and post any info I come across that might be related to what is happening
to these hummers. IMTinkerbell