Did Jesus create birds?

Not according to this verse:

Surely those on whom you call upon instead of Allah cannot create even a fly, though they should all combine together for the purpose. And if the fly should snatch away anything from them, they cannot recover it therefrom. Weak, indeed, are both the seeker and the sought. (22:74)

This verse asserts that false deities don't possess the capability to create even a creature as simple as a fly.  If the ability to create a fly implies godhood, then creating a bird, a higher order creature, would undoubtedly imply the same. However, some Muslims, misinterpreting the metaphorical expression used in 3:50, believe that Jesus created birds. This verse challenges that belief and entirely dismisses the possibility. Among all those "called upon instead of Allah," Jesus holds a distinctive position, having the most followers. If it's accepted that he could create living birds of flesh and blood, with or without God's permission, then the argument of 22:74 fails in its first and most crucial test case.

In defense of the literal interpretation of 3:50, it's argued that Jesus could create birds and resurrect the dead only with Allah's permission. Since granting permission remains Allah's prerogative, the Unity of Godhead remains intact. However, this reasoning weakens the argument in the previous verse. We're informed that life creation is a unique ability of Allah, setting Him apart from His creation, and it's a power He's loathe to delegate. However, stories circulate of specific individuals, notably virtuous ones, who received this power. Their moral standing, prophethood, or lack thereof is irrelevant. If accurate, this delegation of the power to create life could undermine the concept of a singular God. An impartial observer might infer that several beings possess life-creating abilities. By sharing His unique power, God could be seen as complicating matters, making the quest for the One True God exceedingly challenging. How can one discern which ancients were granted Allah's permission to create life and which were not? In this context, there would be no basis to criticize those who attribute partners to Allah.

Then again, what became of the birds Jesus created? These birds must have reproduced and multiplied, leading us to the assumption that there are two kinds of birds in the world: those created by Allah and those created by Jesus. It's more probable that these two types have intermingled, making it impossible to definitively state whether a specific bird was entirely created by Allah, by Jesus, or a combination of both.  If this doesn't constitute shirk, then what does?

Meaning of Birds in the Quran

There is no contradiction in the Holy Quran. The reference to 'birds' can be metaphorically interpreted as individuals who achieve significant spiritual elevation:

Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises, all who are in the heavens and the earth celebrate, and so do the birds with their wings outspread? (24:42)

Indeed, regular birds, along with all of God's creations, both living and non-living, are included in "all who are in the heavens and the earth." The reference to birds with outspread wings could symbolize the most noble of all creations that praise Allah. This could only be spiritually soaring humans, deserving of special and honored recognition.