It's small, able to fly short distances but not able to get elevation. It might not be long before it's big enough to fly properly.
Will it eat? Drink? Currently it's in a box with a wire mesh top I've put over it.
The thing will be cat food if I let it outside and there's no way it can get back to its nest.
It's cheaping trying to call for mom but there's no answer.
My thinking is like.. Water, seed (we have a parrot so I have seed)... Hoping it can feed itself or it's probably done for? If it can survive a few days to a week with me then it might get big enough to leave?
I'm not a bid knower. I recently encountered a bird that was very similar in appearance - like its feathers were too big for its body. I thought it was cut in half because of the proportions from the front. It was just looking at me sitting on a hose. I walked around it and thought i saw guts but it was just pooping a lot. Then a male and female cardinal flew down and started acting very distressed and I realized it was a baby and they were probably trying to get me to stay away and they were teaching it to fly. They have a nest in a bush nearby.
Maybe your bird doesn't need assistance yet, you could put some water out and keep an eye out.
Yeah that's the plan.