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Stages of the Breeding Cycle Find and defend a territory Find a mate Build a nest and lay eggs Incubate eggs Feed and raise nestlings Fledge from the nest

Find and Defend a Territory Nearly all birds defend a breeding territory during their breeding season – Contains the resources needed to live, nest, and raise young

Build a Nest Birds use a huge variety of materials to build nests – Twigs and sticks – Dead leaves – Pebbles – Mud – Hair, fur, feathers – Yarn, string, dental floss – …many more!

Cup

Scrape Platform Domed Cavity Pendulous cup

Lay Eggs A clutch is the eggs laid by on female during a single nesting attempt Laying time varies Inter-egg intervals LS1B

Incubate Eggs Developing chicks must be kept at a certain temperature Mostly “brooding,” (when an adult birds sits on its eggs or young to warm them)

Chicks Hatch Chicks use an egg tooth to break through the shell Pipping is the process of breaking through the shell

Hatchlings Altricial hatchlings are completely dependent on their parents Precocial hatchlings more developed and more independent

Feed and Raise Young

Fledge from the Nest When a nestling: – Is able to leave the nest, but not necessarily fully capable of flight – Has acquired its first complete set of flight feathers Term usually used for altricial nestlings