Begging Fledglings

It is the time of year when recently fledged birds are very conspicuous, especially when we can hear their loud begging cries. These cries stimulate parents to bring them food. We can often see a parent attending to a young bird or both parents frantically searching for food and actively feeding all their offspring.

If you look at a young bird you will notice that they all have a lighter colored gape, this is the mouth opening between the upper and lower bill. In a number of birds it is a good way of separating adults from juveniles. The term gaping applies to any begging bird. These of course tend to be the youngsters, but it can also be seen during courtships when females beg for food from their mates. Most young birds have yellow mouth gapes that serve as targets for delivering food. The brighter the color, especially for cavity nesters, the easier it is for adults to find and feed the babies.

Something to keep in mind, is that if you should be lucky enough to see young birds, please leave alone. The chances are very slim that they have ben abandoned. You may not see them, but the parents are close by and will look after and feed them, as soon as you leave.