A young bird that is ready to fly is called a fledgling. Fledglings are young birds who have developed enough feathers and wing strength to leave the nest and take their first flights. This is an exciting and dangerous period in a young bird’s life, as they must learn to use their wings to fly and hunt for food while avoiding predators. Fledging age varies by species, but generally occurs 2-4 weeks after hatching.
When Does a Bird Fledge?
The age at which a young bird fledges depends on the species. Here are some examples of fledging ages:
Species | Fledging Age |
Robins | 13-16 days |
Blue jays | 17-21 days |
Goldfinches | 11-17 days |
Mourning doves | 13-15 days |
Crows | 28-35 days |
Owls | 4-7 weeks |
Hawks | 4-6 weeks |
Eagles | 10-13 weeks |
As you can see, smaller songbirds like robins and finches fledge faster than larger birds like crows, owls, and eagles. The timing depends on how quickly the young are able to develop feathers for flight. Larger birds take longer to grow strong flight feathers.
Physical Changes Preparing for Fledging
In the weeks before fledging, young birds go through several physical changes to prepare them for life outside the nest:
- Feather growth – Feathers develop enough to allowpowered flight. They fill out the wings and tail.
- Muscle growth – Chest muscles and wing muscles strengthen to enable flapping.
- Weight loss – Baby fat is burned off as the bird becomes more active.
- Wing development – Coordination improves as wings grow and stretch.
These developmental steps allow the bird to gain the strength, agility, and coordination required for flight. A young bird that does not successfully complete these growth phases will not be able to fledge at the appropriate time.
Behaviors Leading up to Fledging
In addition to physical changes, young birds approaching their fledging age also display certain behaviors as they test out their wings in preparation for that important first flight:
- Flapping wings – As wings grow and strengthen, young birds flap them frequently in the nest.
- Hovering – Birds begin hovering and fluttering a few inches off the nest bottom.
- Wing stretching – Perching at the nest edge helps stretch and exercise growing wings.
- Hopping and flapping – Vigorous hopping combines wing flapping to build flight muscles.
- Preening – Preening feathers distributes waterproofing oils needed for flight.
These types of flapping, stretching, and preening exercises help young birds build up endurance and practice control needed for sustained flights. Watching a young bird grow from a helpless hatchling to mastering their wings is one of the great wonders of nature.
The Fledgling’s First Flight
The actual event when a young bird takes its first flight from the nest is called its maiden flight or fledging flight. For many species, this first flight is largely instinctual, driven by a natural impulse to stretch their wings and fly.
Some key facts about a bird’s first flight:
- Short distance – Most only fly a short distance on maiden flight.
- Downward – The flight path is usually downward to a lower spot below the nest.
- Silent – Birds vocalize little on initial flights.
- Wobbly – First flights can appear clumsy and awkward.
- No help – Parents typically do not help or guide the initial flight.
While it may look ungraceful, that first fledgling flight is a huge milestone for a young bird. It is a rite of passage from nestbound baby to free flying juvenile.
Fledgling Risks and Vulnerabilities
Once on the wing, fledglings face many dangers and their inexperience makes them especially vulnerable:
- Predators – Cats, snakes, raccoons, and other predators target unskilled young birds.
- Collisions – They may fly into trees, windows, cars, or manmade structures.
- Exhaustion – Flights fatigue their underdeveloped muscles and drain nutrients.
- Starvation – Finding food on their own is difficult at first.
- Falls – Early clumsy landings result in tumbles and falls.
- Abandonment – Some parents prematurely stop feedings.
To improve their odds, fledglings hide on or near the ground in bushes or shrubs. Their streaky brown coloring helps camouflage them. Parents continue to bring food and monitor them from afar. Despite difficulties, most fledglings do survive thanks to parental care.
Developing Flight Skills and Independence
In the first few weeks after fledging, young birds work rapidly to develop their flying technique and gain independence. Here is how they learn and improve:
- Follow parents – Follow and observe their parents flying and foraging.
- Short flights – Take frequent short flights to build endurance and skill.
- Flutter down – Hold wings out to flutter gently down from perches and branches.
- Landing – Work on balance and landing grace to avoid tumbles.
- Hunting – Parents demonstrate and share hunting lessons to catch insects.
- Evasion – Escape and evasion tactics are honed to avoid predators.
- Vocalizations – Practice species vocalizations for communication and signaling.
With each passing day, fledglings gain greater aerial agility, stamina, vocalizations, foraging abilities, and predator defenses. Within a few weeks, they can fly as strongly as adults. The clumsy baby birds transform into graceful, beautiful flyers ready to migrate or claim their own territories.
Differences Between Nestlings, Fledglings, and Juveniles
There are key differences between young birds at various developmental stages:
Stage | Age | Traits |
Nestling | New hatchling to pre-fledge | Feathers beginning to emerge, parents provide all food, stays in nest |
Fledgling | Post-fledge to 3 weeks | Full feathers but short tails, flies awkwardly, hides on ground, parents feed |
Juvenile | 3 weeks to several months | Strong flier, vocalizations improve, independent foraging, some juvenile plumage |
The young bird phase when a bird is testing its wings for the first time as a fledgling is very brief, typically lasting only 1-3 weeks. But it represents a major milestone in their transition to adulthood. Those first faltering flights become the foundation for a lifetime of more graceful airborne journeys.
Signs a Fledgling May Need Help
While most fledglings succeed in leaving the nest thanks to parental care, some run into trouble and need human assistance. Here are signs a fledgling may be in danger and need help:
- Injured or weak – Gaping wound, broken wing/leg, bleeding, lethargic, sickly.
- No parents – Looking emaciated from lack of feeding.
- On ground over 24 hrs – Not able to fly back up to safety.
- Bad location – In the middle of a road or driveway.
- Swarmed by predators – Being actively attacked by other animals.
If a fledgling shows any of these signs, it likely needs to be rescued. Gently pick it up with a towel and bring it to a wildlife rehabilitator. They will examine, feed, and care for the bird until it is well enough to be released back to the wild. With quick help, many distressed fledglings can be nursed back to health and survive.
Fascinating Fledgling Facts
To wrap up, here are some interesting facts about bird fledglings:
- Songbirds collectively fledge up to 20 billion baby birds per year in North America.
- The world’s smallest fledgling is the bee hummingbird which weighs less than a penny.
- The world’s largest fledgling is the ostrich chick which can weigh over 5 pounds at hatching.
- Birds that nest in cavities tend to fledge faster than open-cup nesters.
- The only continent without fledglings is Antarctica since it has no native nesting birds.
- Most wild bird parents will continue to care for fledglings even if humans touch them.
- Fledglings shed their first feathers around 6 weeks and start moulting to juvenile plumage.
The fledgling stage marks a thrilling turning point when young birds take wing for the first time. While a challenging rite of passage, it leads to a lifetime of flight and opens up a world of feeding, migrating and breeding opportunities. The fleeting fledgling phase is a beautiful reminder that with time, care, and a little help, young creatures can find the strength to lift off and soar.
Conclusion
In summary, a young bird that is ready to fly is called a fledgling. It is a brief but important developmental stage as baby birds leave the nest and test their flying skills for the first time. Fledglings undergo physical changes like feather growth and muscle development to enable flight. Their first wobbly flights from the nest are risky but help young birds transform into agile, graceful fliers. With parental support and improving aerial abilities, most fledglings survive this vulnerable phase and learn to thrive independently in the outside world. The fledgling’s first flight represents a major milestone and rite of passage on the journey to adulthood for young birds.