Baby Birds
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| The only thing more fun than
watching birds as they go about their various important
tasks in our backyard, is being able to see the adorable
babies watch and learn about their new world. We can see
them flexing their young wings until the flying and
landing procedures become second nature. |
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The
parent birds bring the babies to the feeder area to teach them
about finding food. The little ones start on the ground, hide in
a nearby bush or tree, or wait on a feeder perch. The parents
will transfer seeds (breaking open shells if necessary) to the
baby's wide open mouth. This is accompanied by the incessant
crying and begging of "Feed me, feed me now!" The parent bird
works tirelessly filling the yawning mouths which still open
wide with the soft yellowish gapes that lead to seemingly
bottomless pits. |
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| The time period of this feeding and protecting process is
relatively short. After several days of guidance and direction
the new fledglings are on their own. Most are the size of adult
birds and quickly grow into a natural coordination as their
feathers come in and mature . Baby birds use the lessons learned
by watching their parents and too, their own natural instincts
to increase their chances of survival . |
| ...grackle
and
blue jay main pages |
| Baby
Bird Terminology: |
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Altricial:
Birds totally dependent with no feathers when hatched;
without the ability to see, walk, maintain their
temperature or feed themselves.
Precocial:
Birds with down feathers and capable of walking and
feeding themselves; still dependent on adult bird to
teach feeding and survival skills, and if necessary
migratory patterns; adults also provide protection from
predators.
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Altricial Baby Bird Types: |
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Nestlings: Dependent young
altricial birds; beaks not fully formed; few if
any feathers or pinfeathers; can't walk, hop or
fly; fed in the nest by mother and/or father who
also remove fecal sacs to keep nest clean; body
temperature maintained by parents and nesting
material.
Because trying to observe nestlings can lead
to harmful consequences for these little
dependent creatures, we will talk more about
fledglings. While human odors are not
off-putting to birds, our frequent nest checking
can lead predators, who will follow our scent,
right to the nest. Best to wait for the babies
to venture forth and leave nesting observations
to the experts with their special camera
equipment and scientific means of study. (That
being said - these robin nestlings were in an
easily visible nest built in a hanging pot on a
gardener friend's side porch).
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Fledglings: Older babies who
have left the nest or fledged; feathers have
developed; tail is short; capable of walking,
hopping and some flying (jump out of nest, not
fly); parents still provide care and protection;
babies taught survival skills by adults.
...robin
main page
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| Baby
Bird (Fledgling) Characteristics |
| How
Fledglings Look: Body and Feathers |
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Seemingly contrary to our preconceived
notions, most baby birds are just as large as
their parents. Mammals tend to their young for
longer periods than birds and the birth process
necessitates small young. The bird grows
outside the mother and can mature faster. It is
felt that the sooner a baby leaves the nest, the
greater the survival rate. In the confined nest,
he remains a "sitting duck" for predators. The
baby bird must also quickly be ready for the
colder weather to come, if he stays in the area
or if not he must prepare for migration.
...chipping
sparrow main page
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The
baby bird looks fluffy and disheveled because
his contour or body feathers are new and loosely
structured. While the new nestling was born
naked, he soon acquired downy feathers for
insulation in body temperature control. As the
down feathers are molted and replaced by
juvenile plumage, the baby bird now has wing and
tail feathers that will enable flight. |
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Sometimes the
natal down has not entirely been dropped and
temporary stringy tufts remain on the nape of
the neck or if left on top of the head, may
resemble horns.
...house
finch main page
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Bristles are
specialized contour feathers found in some birds
located on eyelids, toes and around the mouth.
In the mouth area these rictal bristles protrude
forward and perform a sensory function similar
to animal whiskers. Some feel they also serve to
protect a baby's eyes from insect legs and /or
to keep the insect food from leaving the large
mouth.
...tufted
titmouse main page
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Fledgling tails
are often short because the flight feathers are
not as mature and lengthy as the tail on an
adult bird.
...red-winged
blackbird main page
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Feather
coloration most closely resembles the mom. Even
so, it may be difficult determining the identity
of the fledgling. The purpose of the dull
colors, spots and streaks is the same for the
adult female as the fledglings -- protection by
camouflage colored feathers. The pigment for
brown birds is melanin which also provides
protection from ultraviolet rays. The most
accurate identification of a baby bird is from
the proximity, interest and care shown by the
nearby adult.
...cardinal
main page
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| How
Fledglings Look: Eye Coloration |
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Variation of eye
color can be a great indication
of fledging or adult. The young may have irises
that are dull. The muddiness of the eye clears
as the crystalline of the iris matures. Eye
color may also change completely in some adult
birds.
...grackle
main page
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| How
Fledglings Look: Beak and Mouth |
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A new bird has a
sharp spot on the top of his beak called an egg
tooth. This structure enables him to break out
of his shell. It disappears soon after the
eggshell is broken apart.
The beak and mouth
area of the baby bird greatly differs from the
parents in many ways. The color of the throat
and mouth linings range from
yellow
to orange to red. These bright colors
seem to serve as easy targets for the adults to
aim and drop the food. There has been some
indication that the redder the color the more
urgent the need for sustenance and the more
likely that baby gets immediate attention.
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The beak is often
dark (even if the adults have light or brightly
colored ones). The
gape
(the intersection between the upper mandible and
lower mandible ) is still very soft and flexible
allowing the mouth to open as wide as possible.
This feature allows the baby to receive large
amounts of food from the feeding adult at one
time. The gape eventually hardens and darkens as
the fledgling learns to feed himself. When the
mouth is closed the gape takes a downward turn
giving the baby a sad, endearing look. The color
of the whole bill usually changes with maturity.
...house
sparrow main page
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How Fledglings Sound: Vocalization |
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Even as nestlings, baby
birds quickly learn to remain still and quiet when
feeling threatened. Hiding, not moving or vocalizing,
and camouflage coloring are fledglings' survival
tactics. Otherwise, when hungry, the baby uses
short, loud and
repeated notes to remind parents where they are
and to hurry up with the food. As an adult with goodies
approaches, the call increases in frequency and volume.
(The incessant noise is fair warning to get the camera
ready.
Just as baby birds must
learn many skills for survival, they also acquire and
personalize their songs and vocalizations. Some seem
born to certain songs and others adapt to local
variations or mockery of nearby noises. Listening to
parents communicating and learning their ways, is
essential to maturity, reproduction, migration and
longevity.
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| How
Fledglings Behave: Begging |
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Even if a
fledgling is not actively calling and crying, he
may be perched somewhere with beak occasionally
open in anticipation of being fed (called
gaping).
He may follow an adult everywhere, begging for
food.
...chipping
sparrow main page
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| How
Fledglings Behave: Parental Feeding |
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The baby will open
his beak allowing the adult to place his own
beak and deposit food well into the fledgling's
mouth.
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Of course, it is
instinctual to be fed in this manner, from the
time of leaving the egg.
The fledgling still has the gape enables him to
open wide in order to receive the food from the
parent bird. As he becomes more independent and
can procure his own nourishment the gape
disappears.
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| ...house
sparrow main page |
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| How
Fledglings Behave: Inactive Perching |
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It is striking to
see a bird
just sitting on a perch looking around.
Sometimes the baby seems content to stay quiet
and wait. But a younger bird will frantically
try to follow the adult, who is usually very
busy procuring food for the youngsters and their
own needs.
Often a baby bird
will sit with
wings down
looking helpless.
Remaining quiet
and still is often in response to an adults
warning call. This and camouflage coloring is
crucial for the survival of the fledgling.
...
downy main page
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| ...song
sparrow and
tree swallow main pages |
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| How
Fledglings Behave: Hiding Undercover |
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Until the
fledgling is comfortable flying, he often hides
under bushes, in garden beds, under lawn chairs
and natural covers. Parent birds often swoop
down to keep them fed.
While proving to
make photographing babies more difficult, it is
worth the trade-off to have a higher survival
rate for the fledglings born in our yard.
...goldfinch
main page
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| How
Fledglings Behave: Ground Hopping |
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Fledglings leave
the nest before their full flight feathers have
grown in. They spend some time on the ground,
hopping and hiding at first. The tendency of a
human observer may be to make an attempt to
return the baby to the nest. But chances are, a
parent bird is nearby and is in the process of
caring, teaching and feeding the seemingly
helpless baby.
...song
sparrow main page
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| How
Fledglings Behave: Short Flights and Awkward Landings |
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As flight feathers
and confidence grow, the fledgling takes short,
clumsy flights. The goal is to follow the
parents to higher feeders. Landings are
uncertain and
wing
fluttering helps gain balance and
parental attention.
While young birds
appear to puzzle over the real function of their
wings, they instinctually use them to balance in
landings and to maintain a steady seat on a
perch.
...house
finch main page
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