Do wild birds play with toys?????

[Nooodle]

Do wild birds like toys. I have been taking care of a mockingbird that fell out of its nest when it had almost no feathers. It can fly right now, Do wild birds like to play with toys like the birds in captivity do? also I tried putting a couple toys in his cage and he got REALLY scared. How do I make Him so he is not scared of toys?
Thanks in advance!

[Sorathien]

birds in the wild do not really use toys, they have activities like foraging for food, building nests, etc. that occupy their time. however, captive birds do need toys to keep them busy. try putting the toy beside his cage first to let him get used to having it in his space, without being IN his space. then after a few weeks, once he's gotten used to looking at it, put it in the cage. it might take him a while to start actually playing with it though.

[Nooodle]

Thanks, I will try that. Do you think since he is not in the ild right now, he will like playing with toys?

[lovechick]

I really doubt he will play with them, usually parrots are the ones that are into those sorts of things, and other domestic birds like finches and canaries usually dont play with toys( although I have heard of exceptions), but on the other hand, this bird will probably appriciate a large flight cage, with variety of perches, like manzanita or you can cut some apple branches( make sure theyre not sprayed with pesticides) and it will make the bird feel more at home. You can also try hanging a larger( cockatiel/parrot) swing.

[Nooodle]

Thanks, What cage size do you guys think would be good for when he is an adult?

[wingnut]

Hi - I have 2 wild ones (bulbuls) rescued as tiny babies, and they both play with toys a LOT. To them, toys could be scraps of paper, bits of leather, pieces of straws, pens, business cards, etc. along with whatever the cockatiels are playing with. Wild birds will definitely play with things. We don't have (many) mockingbirds here (actually we have some, but I've never seen one!) so I can't give you species-specific info, but if it's a bird, it'll play!

[Nooodle]

Thanks I will try giving him some of those kinds of toys.

[LadyLynn]

Even though this post is months old I feel I should address this issue.

Birds have personalities, just as we do, and more often than not anything bigger than they are or a certain color or is unfamiliar can frighten them.

Don't push wild or tame birds.

I currently have 2 birds that love bells.
I have one that plays with a rope.
I have another who simply doesn't play with toys, but prefers to be with human company.

But some birds like: hide and seek, and peek a boo.

keep it simple.

[tweety bird]

I have crows around my place that play with different things.