Baby birds are born unable to fly. They depend on their parents to feed them, keep them warm, and protect them from harm. But eventually, they have to learn to use their wings and take to the skies on their own. So how do baby birds learn this complex skill that is so critical to their survival? Can they figure it out instinctively, or do they need parental guidance?
When do baby birds start trying to fly?
Baby birds start flapping their wings and building flight muscles weeks or days before their first flight. The age when birds fledge (make their first flight) depends on the species. For example:
Species | Age of Fledging |
---|---|
Chickens | 2-3 weeks |
Robins | 10-17 days |
Blue jays | 17-21 days |
Mallard ducks | 50-60 days |
So most songbirds fledge between 10-17 days after hatching. Larger birds like gulls and cranes take even longer, fledging around two months after hatching. The readiness to fledge depends on how quickly chicks can develop wing muscles and coordination.
Do baby birds fly well on the first try?
No, the first flight for young birds is awkward and experimental. Baby birds may spend several days after fledging fluttering from branch to branch, gliding downward, and making short hops and flights as they learn.
Fledglings have a characteristic behavior called branching where they climb from the nest using feet and beak, flutter wings for balance, and make short hops and flights between branches. Parent birds often observe nearby, encouraging the clumsy first flights with calls and demonstrations.
It takes days or weeks of practice after fledging before a young bird can fly smoothly, steer well, and land gracefully. Fledglings may use their wing area differently than adult birds until their skills improve. Young birds get better at flying steadily and maneuvering quickly with age.
What instincts do baby birds have for flying?
Baby birds have a natural urge to use their wings, though the wing movements are uncoordinated at first. Here are some inborn instincts and reflexes that help young birds learn flight:
- Proprioception – Baby birds have built-in senses that help their brain track the position and movements of their body parts in space, including their wings.
- Righting reflex – If a bird starts to fall or tilt, an innate instinct makes it automatically spread its wings and tail to stabilize its body.
- Wing flapping – Young birds start exercising their wings days or weeks before fledging. The flapping action prepares their muscles and neural connections.
- Air righting – Sensing airflow over their wings helps birds reflexively adjust wing angles and body position to steer mid-air.
These inborn reflexes coordinate muscle movements for balance, steering, and landing. But getting airborne and flying smoothly requires practice.
What role do bird parents play in teaching flight?
Parent birds don’t actively “teach” fledglings how to fly through lessons. But parents do play important roles in facilitating the first flights:
- Encouragement – Parent birds start encouraging chicks to flap wings and exercise weeks before fledging. They may entice chicks with food and calls.
- Boosting – Some parent birds continue bringing food to fledglings for days or weeks after first flight, so the young can focus on flying rather than foraging.
- Protection – Parents guard fledglings from predators. Fledglings lack strong escape skills, so parents act as a safety net.
- Demonstration – Young birds observe parents flying and may try to imitate them. Parents show fledglings good routes and landing spots.
- Calling – Parents make distinctive contact calls that help fledglings identify their location for landing.
So while parents don’t directly teach flying skills, their support and guidance help young birds practice flying safely. This allows the fledgling to perfect their innate flying abilities through trial and error.
What are the stages of learning to fly?
Ornithologists break down the period between hatching and skilled flight into overlapping stages:
Wing Exercising
Starting weeks or days before fledging, chicks flap and stretch their wings frequently. This builds strength and coordination for lift-off.
Fledging
The first lift-off from the nest to a nearby branch or the ground. Fledging may cover only a few inches initially.
Branching
Fledglings move among branches by climbing, fluttering, and making short flights across gaps to neighboring perches.
Bridging
Longer flights of 10 feet or more between trees or ledges. Bridging flights start building endurance.
Free flight
Sustained flying at adult speeds and distances. Birds can forage independently after reaching free flight stage.
The age of attaining each stage depends on the bird species. Songbirds often go through branching and bridging from 10 days to 2 weeks after fledging.
What are common mistakes and challenges for fledglings?
First flights are full of mishaps and errors that the young birds learn from:
- Faulty lift-offs – Fledglings may slip on branches or have clumsy, unbalanced take-offs.
- Unstable landings – Touchdowns are often clumsy with feet scraping branches or awkward stumbles.
- Poor steering – Young birds struggle to control direction and avoid obstacles at first.
- Attempting long flights too soon – Fledglings may try long bridging flights before building wing strength.
- Exhaustion – Flapping is tiring for underdeveloped muscles, so early flights are often short.
- Trouble gaining altitude – Inexperienced wings can’t generate enough lift for steep ascents.
With practice over days or weeks, fledglings get better at controlling speed, angle, fine maneuvers, and graceful landings. The hours spent branching teaches them to use air currents and navigate obstacles.
What are the risks to fledglings learning to fly?
The learning period right after fledging is the most dangerous time in a young bird’s life. The risks include:
- Predators – Clumsy flights make fledglings easy targets for predators like hawks, cats, rats, and snakes.
- Accidents – Unable to steer adeptly, beginners may fly into windows, cars, fences, or get tangled in vegetation.
- Falls – Fledglings often lose altitude fast and may tumble to the ground or into water.
- Separation – Inexperienced birds can wander too far from the nest and get lost.
- Exhaustion – Flapping for too long may drain a young bird’s limited energy, causing it to fall.
Up to 70% of fledglings may not survive to adulthood. But the weeks of practicing short flights helps prepare the survivors for the challenges ahead.
When can young birds fly competently?
Fledglings advance from clumsy fluttering to competent flying over 2-14 days for most songbirds. Precocial birds that leave the nest shortly after hatching take longer – several weeks to attain strong flight skills.
Here are some signs a young bird is ready for skiled, sustained flight:
- Powerful taking off and landing
- Able to ascend steeply and fly at adult speeds
- Balanced, upright posture in the air
- Smooth banked turns in any direction
- Foraging on the wing for food
- Migration over long distances
Once birds can fly well enough to feed independently and avoid predators, they no longer need parental care. Flying opens up the world for young birds to explore new habitats.
Conclusion
Baby birds are born with reflexes and instincts that get them airborne for the first vital flights away from the nest. But improving their initial clumsy fluttering into skilled, aerobatic flight requires lots of trial and error over days or weeks of practice. Parent birds play a key role in protecting and encouraging the fledglings during this risky learning period. Gaining flight is a major milestone in a young bird’s life that allows it to feed and fend for itself.