When do baby birds leave the nest?

Some birds, such as the kildeer, leave the nest within hours of hatching and become independent after 20 to 31 days. Perhaps the slowest bird to learn to fly is the rock pigeon. If the egg is laid in midwinter, the baby can take 45 days to fletch. read more

When you come across a helpless-looking baby bird out of its nest, it’s hard to resist the overpowering urge to come to the rescue. But most of the time it’s best to do nothing. Many birds that people try to rescue are still being cared for by their parents and should be left alone. Remember: Young birds face naturally tough odds. read more

People tend to think of nests as safe, cozy little homes. But predators have a pretty easy time finding a nest full of loud baby birds, and nests can be hotbeds of parasites. Parent birds work from sunrise to sunset every day to get their young grown and out of the nest as quickly as possible. read more