The Egg
Before a bird can hatch, it starts off as an egg. The mother bird lays the egg and keeps it warm by sitting on top of it. Inside the egg, the baby bird starts to grow. The hard eggshell protects the baby bird while it develops.
Eggs come in different shapes, sizes, colors, and markings depending on the type of bird. For example, hummingbird eggs are tiny and white. Chicken eggs are larger and brown. Ostrich eggs are very large and cream colored. The eggshell is made mostly of calcium carbonate crystals. It has tiny pores that allow air and moisture to pass through so the baby bird can breathe.
The yolk provides food for the growing baby bird. It contains protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals surrounded by the egg white. The egg white cushions the yolk and contains water and protein.
Around 10 days after an egg is laid, veins start to appear on the yolk. This is when the embryo starts developing. Over the next few days, the baby bird will develop a heart, eyes, beak, legs, wings, and feathers. The air cell forms inside the egg to give the embryo room to grow.
Pipping
About 2-3 days before hatching, the baby bird starts to pip. Pipping is when the baby bird pokes a small hole in the eggshell with its egg tooth. The egg tooth is a sharp little bump on the tip of the baby bird’s beak. It is made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails. The egg tooth falls off a few days after hatching once it is no longer needed.
During the pipping process, the baby bird will continue to use its egg tooth to break the eggshell little by little in a circular motion. This can take 12-36 hours to fully pip around the circumference of the shell. Pipping allows the baby bird to start breathing air from outside the egg. It also lets the baby test its lungs and get used to the rhythmic breathing motion it will need after hatching. The baby bird usually rests between pipping efforts.
Hatching
Once pipped all the way around, it’s time for the baby bird to fully hatch out of its egg. The hatching process takes 6-12 hours. The baby bird will use its legs and neck to push, twist, and turn itself into position. It will also use its egg tooth to peck away the cracked eggshell.
Hatching is hard work! The baby bird needs to push against the thick eggshell and squeeze its body out of the small opening. It’s an exhausting process. The baby bird may rest periodically before continuing its hatching efforts.
As the baby bird emerges, its feathers are wet and matted. At first, its eyes are closed. Once fully hatched, the baby bird will sit in the nest resting and drying off. Within a few hours, the hatchling will get more active and start exploring its world.
What the Baby Bird Needs
In the first few days after hatching, the baby bird is completely dependent on its parents for warmth, protection, and food. Here are some of the key things baby birds need:
Warmth
Baby birds can’t regulate their body temperature well. They rely on the mother bird brooding them or sitting on top of them to keep warm. If the babies get cold, they may die. The father may also help brood the babies.
Protection
The nest provides safety from predators. Parent birds will aggressively defend the nest if needed. Baby birds are very vulnerable in the first weeks. They can’t walk, fly, or defend themselves.
Food
Parent birds work hard to find food to feed their babies. Nestlings gape with their mouths open to signal hunger. The parents feed them pre-digested insects or worms, regurgitated seeds, or crop milk, depending on the species. As the babies grow, the parents may bring whole food items for them to practice eating.
Exercise
As their wings and legs get stronger, baby birds will flap around the nest and hop from perch to perch. This helps them build muscle and improve coordination.
Preening
Baby birds use their beak to straighten, clean, and maintain their growing feathers. This is called preening. Preening helps remove dirt or parasites and distributes protective oils over the feathers.
Fledging
Within 2-8 weeks after hatching, baby birds develop enough to leave the nest on their first flight. This is called fledging. Most songbirds fledge in 2-3 weeks. Larger birds like hawks may fledge in 6-8 weeks.
A few days before fledging, the babies will stand on the edge of the nest flapping their wings. Soon they become brave enough to take the leap out! Fledglings make clumsy, fluttering short flights at first. They may end up on the ground until they build their flight skills. Parent birds continue to feed and protect the fledglings for several more weeks as they learn to survive on their own.
Conclusion
Hatching and growing up is a dangerous but exciting time for baby birds! It takes a lot of energy to pip out of the egg, learn to eat on their own, fledge from the nest, and become independent. With good parenting and a bit of luck, young birds can overcome the challenges and survive to continue the circle of life. The miracle of hatching leads to the next generation of birds that will fill the skies with beauty and song.
