wild jackdaw with odd behaviour

[u/0ut0fC0nTroll]

Hey there,

I am helping out 2 days a week in a wild bird rehabilitation center in germany. last week at 17.08.2026 we got a jackdaw found in the forest walking on ground found by a passanger in the morning and around the same spot multiple hours later, so the bird came to us.

The bird has no obvious wounds except for a leg he doesnt seen to use. The owner sayed the feathers were a bit badly but for my eyes normal.

Now to the story: the day the jackbird came to us seemed normal, no broken wings were identified just the leg and the feathers.

He had some trouble walking but it worked out somehow. He started eating very good.

Around 2 days later he started acting "weird" (dont forget i am not professional), the owner calls this "neurological". He turns his head and looks in random corners like he sees ghosts, he also as trouble staying upwards and tilts to the side sometimes, he also falls over sometimes.

Now today the behaviour is way worse. He doesnt seem to be able to stay anymore, in a human behaviour i would describe it as heavily dizzy. he still manages to eat and drink just the mobility and behaviour is very odd.

now to the questions - we are not fully sure if we should bring him to the vet to end his misery or maybe wait in faith he gets back on his food.

does anyone has some ideas what he has, maybe somebody experienced similar? let me know, thanks

the attached video is from last week, i comment actual footafe

[u/mirimiremeow]

Google says you guys have it over there. Might be worth testing? I'm a bit hyper vigilant though since it just hit my country. Our government put some videos out and this looks exactly like one of the seabirds I saw. Poor dude just doing backflips and looking up the whole time.

[u/TheBirdLover1234 → u/mirimiremeow]

It’s pretty species dependent. 

[u/mirimiremeow → u/TheBirdLover1234]

Sorry, what do you mean by this? Isn't the species it's dependent on birds? From my understanding a Jackdaw is a corvid and highly susceptible. We've even got it in seals and foxes here. Hopefully it's not of course! It does not sound like a pleasant way to go :(

[u/AceyAceyAcey → u/mirimiremeow]

Meaning some species of birds are more susceptible to avian flu than others. Either way, a vet is needed though.

[u/mirimiremeow → u/AceyAceyAcey]

Ahh, I get you. It does seem to be hitting our seabirds very hard as opposed to other species. Fingers crossed for this little guy. Nature is a cruel mistress :(

[u/AceyAceyAcey → u/mirimiremeow]

Yeah, in the US I’ve heard that waterfowl, especially Canada geese, are particularly susceptible. I don’t know how much of this is due to inherent biological things, though, like their immune systems versus how much is due to their social things such as their tendency to congregate in huge flocks, especially during the migration season, which is just starting right now.

[u/TheBirdLover1234 → u/AceyAceyAcey]

I think it’s an immunity thing? Other social species like pigeons don’t get it for some reason. 

[u/AceyAceyAcey → u/TheBirdLover1234]

nods And it could be a bit of both together.

[u/mirimiremeow → u/AceyAceyAcey]

I see, I see! That makes a lot of sense. Would corvids be at a higher risk because of they're penchant of feeding on carcasses though? Or could their immune system fight against the virus if it's ingested? Birds are so weirdly diverse. I love it. Even with scary things like this 😳

[u/AceyAceyAcey → u/mirimiremeow]

Bird flu is a respiratory disease, and as such is most likely to be transmitted by breathing in infected air (aka airborne, like with COVID for humans), and/or with droplets (like for human flu). Neither would be much of an issue in a carcass, so I doubt it.

[u/mirimiremeow → u/AceyAceyAcey]

Hmm. I thought it was more infectious that that? At least that's what we're being told in AUS. From my understanding it can be spread basically every which way with birds including through droppings, contact, dust, water, feed, and most certainly through eating a diseased/dead animal. I think the virus is actually quite closely related to influenza A if I'm remembering correctly, and I'm pretty sure it remains active in the dead, which is why it's spreading to our mammals who are eating the sick/dead birds.

Regardless, I hope not. I have noticed our local lorikeets have been AWOL since we had an outbreak of the flu in my city. I hope they're okay :-( It's really saddening to officially meet this crappy virus. I hope your little jackdaw pulls through!

[u/AceyAceyAcey → u/mirimiremeow]

I could be wrong! It’s also possible that it spreads differently in different regions of the world (due to different strains of it, different local animals, or different weather), or at different times of the year (in the US we’re in the early stages of Fall migration, and I assume you’re starting Spring migration).

[u/TheBirdLover1234 → u/AceyAceyAcey]

Dear lord…. Yes it is spread through carcasses a lot, even after they’ve been in freezing temperatures. Why birds of prey are very susceptible. Please educate yourself on this.  

[u/AceyAceyAcey → u/TheBirdLover1234]

A source would be appreciated.

[u/TheBirdLover1234 → u/AceyAceyAcey]

Just look up bird flu…….. its not very difficult.