Chipping Sparrow © Patrick Van Thull / Macaulay Library

Hello Friend,

Are you a fan of adorable baby birds? You might have noticed that some chicks are quick to walk away from the nest, while others are immobile and helpless. That's because different bird species hatch at different levels of maturity! We can break these levels into four basic categories. Discover them all as part of the free preview of The Hidden World of Nests and Eggs.

If you've ever found a nest full of helpless baby birds hidden away in your bushes or tucked above your front door, odds are these babies were altricial. Altricial chicks are naked, blind, and helpless as soon as they hatch. They remain totally reliant on their parents to provide warmth, food, and waste removal as they continue to develop outside their cozy eggs.

Chipping Sparrow © Pati Neufeld / Macaulay Library

Many songbirds are altricial, including the Chipping Sparrow pictured above. New altricial chicks can look quite uncanny! Would you recognize this pink-skinned, wide-mouthed creature as a Chipping Sparrow chick?

If nesting chicks and their biology fascinate you, you won't want to miss out on our upcoming course, The Hidden World of Nests and Eggs. There's so much to learn! You'll follow nests from eggs to chicks, and explore fascinating examples of nesting biology and behavior all around the world. Register now to join in and start learning as soon as this course releases on April 2, 2026. We can't wait for you to see it!

Excitedly yours,

Your friends at Bird Academy

P.S. Are you a fan of all things nesting? Enjoy our newest downloadable poster, showcasing the types of nests birds build! Explore the blueprint diagrams, then flip to the back for more information on each one.

Upcoming Trivia Event! Are You an Egg-spert?

Southern Lapwing Chick and Egg © Michiel Oversteegen / Macaulay Library

We're kicking off the nest course release with a trivia game all about nests and eggs! Join NestWatch project leader Robyn Bailey and the Bird Academy team Tuesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. EDT/4:00 p.m. PDT for this audience-interactive event.