Roughly speaking, small songbirds take between 10 days and 2 weeks to hatch and the same amount to fledge. Larger birds such as woodpeckers may take 3 weeks to a month to fledge. Many ducks, shorebirds and gamebirds leave the nest immediately after hatching.
You can get detailed information for any species youre interested in by going to its page in our All About Birds species guide. Once youve found the species youre interested in, click on Life History and then scroll down to Nesting.
How Long Do Baby Birds Stay in the Nest?
This varies a lot depending on the species. As is the case with baby ducks, plovers, or pheasants, young birds with down feathers may depart the nest to follow their parents a few hours after hatching. As soon as they hatch, killdeer, quail, grouse, wild turkeys, and sandpipers are active.
Little songbirds grow quickly because their diligent parents feed them on a regular basis. After hatching, they might depart the nest eight to twelve days later. Before taking off on their own, the majority of baby birds remain in the nest for at least ten days. For birds such as rose-breasted grosbeaks, bluebirds, and Baltimore orioles, this usually occurs when the birds are two to three weeks old.
Certain large birds, such as eagles, hawks, and owls, grow considerably more slowly. The largest bird in North America, the California condor, may not leave the nest until it is six months old, and bald eagles can remain in their nests for up to 98 days.
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Where Do Birds Build Nests?
According to Kenn and Kimberly Kaufman, “most birds are not picky about the specific species of plant, but they do have preferences for the general kind of situation where they will build nests, such as in a dense, low shrub or a tall tree.” Scarlet tanagers typically nest in oak trees, yellow warblers in willows, and Baltimore orioles in elms, but all of these birds commonly select other types of trees as well. Few birds in North America are genuinely specialized in the plants they choose to use as nest sites. Curve-billed thrashers in the Southwest are one example; they typically build their nests among the spines of cholla cacti. .
Birds also adapt to local conditions. Although great horned owls typically nest in trees, they can also use cliffs, ground sites, the tops of saguaro cacti, or even buildings. Notoriety be damned, owls frequently commandeer former hawk, crow, heron, or squirrel nests.
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Do Male Birds Make Nests?
Nest construction varies across species. Many times, nest building is a collaborative effort. However, in certain species, like red-winged blackbirds, the males mark their territories and the females build the nests. Many wrens and other birds have multiple nests built by their male parents within their territory, and females use these nests as a partial basis for choosing mates. The females prepare the selected nest for egg laying by cleaning it.
In the end, both males and females assist in fledging the young in the majority of bird species. Sarah states, “Building nests, sitting on eggs, and replenishing food supplies are all necessary for success.” .
See adorable photos of bird mothers with babies.
FAQ
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