What are hatchlings?
What is a fledgling?
What is a fledgling?
What is a baby bird?
special names for young birds
What is a flock of baby birds called?
Depending on the species and age of the bird, how to call a baby bird can vary. Juvenile names vary by species, meaning there is no single term to describe all juveniles. Instead, the generic term for baby birds is “chicken.”
Baby birds have three different names that vary according to the age and life stage of the bird.
- Hatching means that they have just hatched from the eggs in the nest and have not yet grown feathers.
- Hatchlings are the names given to them while they are still in the nest and have not yet ventured out into the world.
- Chicks are the next stage, once their true feathers have grown and are ready to leave the nest, but usually not yet ready to fly.
We’ll break it down into more stages, which are also used in the following different stages of bird life:
What are hatchlings?
Hatching is the term for a bird that has recently hatched from an egg. Chicklings, or newly hatched chicks, are completely dependent on their parents for food, care, and protection.
Most hatchlings are born completely naked, usually with only a few feathers on their skin. Generally, they will huddle with other chicks for warmth during this stage. Most chicks are also born with their eyes open and often do not open them for several days. Beaks also tend to look extremely out of proportion, although they grow into them quickly.
Altrical is the term for this state that many birds, especially songbirds, prefer when hatching. This means they are born underdeveloped and their survival depends on their parents to protect them and provide them with food.
In general, most birds don’t look all that cute at this stage, looking very alien. Unless you happen to stumble across a nest, or sadly watch the hatchlings being driven out of the nest, you will never see birds in this state as most of them will be in the safety of seclusion Place to nest, away from predators.
Recently hatched robin chick, also known as fledgling
What is a fledgling?
Chicks are young birds that usually grow to be three to thirteen days old. As they progress to the next stage, they are slightly more capable than newly hatched pups, but still need and are very dependent on parental care.
Birds in the fledgling stage now mostly have their eyes open and are often covered with “real” feathers rather than the fluffy fluff they hatched with. On closer inspection, the chick’s feathers look like they have some sort of coating on them, and this is where the feathers are new and still need to be combed or “fluffed.”
At this stage, chicks often still look nothing like their parents, and still look a little weird!
birds in fledgling stage
What is a fledgling?
When baby birds reach the fledgling stage, it means they are finally ready to leave the nest and step out into the world for the first time. On average, this is between two and three pieces for most birds. After two to three weeks of growth, the nest is starting to get crowded and all the siblings are bigger, so it’s a good thing they’re leaving the nest!
Chicks usually have most of their adult plumage and are starting to look more like their parents. However, they are usually not fully developed and the plumage may still be dull. The tail and wings will also appear “stubby” at this point because the feathers have not yet grown in.
Once out of the nest, it’s not uncommon for chicks not to be able to fully fly. They often jump and walk around without problem for the first few days after leaving the den. They can often be seen “practicing” flying, occasionally flapping their wings.
For the next few days (and sometimes weeks), the chicks will stay with their families. This is a crucial time when young birds will observe and learn from their parents how to behave. How to forage is one of the most critical things, and these young birds will watch their parents learn how to forage.
In general, the parents will still feed the young, as the chicks will usually still beg for food. This can be observed on feeders and ground. Young birds will “wave” their wings and call to let the parents know they want to feed, and most parents will continue to feed for a short time.
Parents usually keep an eye on baby birds for a while, and intervene if their safety is threatened.
American robin recently flew out of the nest
What is a baby bird?
The word juvenile is equivalent to the juvenile of birds. They are at a stage in life where they are mostly self-reliant if necessary, but still partially dependent on their parents for food and protection.
When birds reach the juvenile stage, they typically spend several weeks with their parents, sometimes begging for food. During this time, the chicks will continue to learn things like hunting and catching food by watching their parents and other family members.
Juveniles have nearly similar plumage to adults, but often still lack some of the bright colors or markings found in adult plumage.
A juvenile blackbird being fed
special names for young birds
Some birds have unique names for their young. Some examples of these are:
- chicken: Poultry, Rooster (male), Pullet (female)
- crane: Colt
- Pigeon: squab, squeak
- Duck: duckling
- eagles: kitty
- falcon: Eye
- Goose: gosling
- grouse: Cheeper, screamer
- guinea fowl: Kit
- the lazy: little dragon
- owl: owl
- Puffin: gasp
- Sandpiper: to peep
- swan: cygnet, bezel
- turkey: Poult, jake (male), jenny (female)
What is a flock of baby birds called?
The most common collective noun to describe a flock of young birds is brood or brood. Clutch is also the term for eggs laid by a bird in a nest.
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I am broadly interested in how human activities influence the ability of wildlife to persist in the modified environments that we create.
Specifically, my research investigates how the configuration and composition of landscapes influence the movement and population dynamics of forest birds. Both natural and human-derived fragmenting of habitat can influence where birds settle, how they access the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and these factors in turn affect population demographics. Most recently, I have been studying the ability of individuals to move through and utilize forested areas which have been modified through timber harvest as they seek out resources for the breeding and postfledging phases. As well I am working in collaboration with Parks Canada scientists to examine in the influence of high density moose populations on forest bird communities in Gros Morne National Park. Many of my projects are conducted in collaboration or consultation with representatives of industry and government agencies, seeking to improve the management and sustainability of natural resource extraction.