How Long Do Baby Birds
Stay in the Nest?

Does The Time Vary From Bird To Bird?

By Richard Worden

There comes a time in every individual’s life when they are “encouraged” to leave their childhood homes. There’s no difference in the bird world–parent birds prime their babies to leave their nest from the moment they are born. So how long do baby birds stay in the nest?

Baby birds stay in their nest between a few days to four months. Flightless birds like kiwis and emus leave when they are five days old. Raptors, like vultures, can stay in their nest until they are four months old. When a bird leaves their nest depends on its ability to fly and find food.

This article explores everything you need to know about baby birds’ nesting habits, including how long they are in their nest and whether they ever return once they leave.

How Long Do Baby Birds Stay in the Nest?

Most baby birds stay in a nest between 1-16 weeks. How long they stay in the nest depends on their development speed and the type of bird. Flightless birds leave their nest after a few days, while raptors leave the nest several weeks after hatching. 

This section explores how different long types of birds stay in their nest.

Perching Birds

Perching birds, also known as passerines, can typically be found perching on tree branches using their unique claw grip. Perching birds can live in their nest for between 8-45 days. Chicks that have just hatched are blind and featherless and rely on their parents for survival. 

Here is the nesting period for some common perching birds:

• Mourning Doves. Mourning dove fledglings leave their nest when they are two weeks alone. They stay close to their nest for another two weeks, looking for food from their parents.
• Swallows. Once they have hatched, swallows stay in their nest for 18-23 days. After they leave the nest, they may stay in the neighborhood for up to 5 days. 
• Cardinals. Cardinals have a comparatively short nesting period. They leave the nest approximately ten days after they hatch.
• Wrens. Baby wrens take 12-18 days to become fledglings. They will leave the nest when they are 18 days old. 
• Blue Jays. Blue Jays will leave the nest 17-21 days after birth.

Flightless Birds 

As their name suggests, flightless birds no longer have the ability to fly. These birds build their nests on or in the ground. Flightless bird babies stay in their nests for only a few days. Once they can walk, they begin leaving the nest with their parents. 

Here’s how long some flightless bird babies stay in their nest:

• Kiwis. After they hatch, kiwis will stay in their nest or burrow for up to 5 days, gaining strength and feeding on the yolk from their eggs. After five days, they leave their nest to explore with their parents.
• Ostriches. Ostrich eggs will incubate in a communal nest for about 40 days. After the baby ostriches hatch, they will stay in their nest for a few days. Once they can walk, they will leave the nest.
• Emus. Emu chicks can walk as soon as they are born and leave the nest when they are three days old. how long do baby birds stay in the nest

Seabirds

Seabirds, or marine birds, nest in colonies with other seabirds on cliffs, coastal trees, or burrows in the ground.

Here’s how long common seabirds stay in their nest: 

• Gulls. Baby gulls leave their nests when they are a few days old but stay close to their parents for several weeks. They take 5-6 weeks to fledge.
• Albatrosses. Albatrosses can live in their nests for up to 9 months. Albatrosses have a long life span and spend the first year of their life being taken care of by their parents. 
• Penguins. Adolescent penguins will leave their nests when they are eight weeks old. Unlike many other birds, they will not stay close to their parents but go straight into the sea to learn to find food and swim.
• Puffins. Baby puffins (also known as pufflings) will stay in their nest for approximately 45 days. They will only leave their nest once they are large enough to swim and fend for themselves. 

Raptors

Raptors are birds that hunt live prey. Baby raptors may spend up to 16 weeks in their nest. 

Here’s a look at how long different raptor species stay in their nest:

• Owls. Owlets will stay in the nest for 6-8 weeks. Many owls don’t know how to fly when they leave the nest but begin walking around to develop their leg muscles.
• Falcons. Many falcons do not build nests but instead scratch a depression in the ground. Falcon babies will stay in their nest until they are around six weeks old or until they learn to fly confidently. 
• Vultures. Baby vultures stay in or near their nest for up to 4 months. They spend the first three months developing their feathers and begin to fledge when they are 2-3 months old. They then begin to fly but return to their nest for a few weeks after for food.  
  
  

When Baby Birds Leave the Nest, Do They Return?

When baby birds are learning to fly, they may return to their nest from time to time for food and protection. However, most birds will not return to their original nests once they fledge completely. A handful of bird species may return to their nests to lay their own brood.

This section examines the different reasons birds return to their nest.

Food and Protection

When young birds that are not confident fliers leave the nest, they are still testing the waters and exploring the world around them. They will return to their nest frequently for shelter, food, and to seek protection from their parents.

Nesting

Some birds may return to their original nests to lay eggs and a brood of their own. Other birds, like geese and ducks, will return to their nest even when fully grown. Their collective instinct compels them to help their parents raise their next batch of siblings.

However, like cardinals, other birds don’t return to their nest to breed. Instead, they prefer to establish their nests and territory. Other birds, like albatrosses, will not return to their nests but will come back to their nesting colony when they are ready to breed.

How Long Does It Take Baby Birds To Fly?

The stage in which baby birds learn to fly is called fledgling. Baby birds can take from 1-4 weeks to learn to fly confidently. Once their wings have developed, they begin to leave the nest to stretch and test their wings. They begin by taking short test flights and then hone their flying skill.

Here’s a look at when some common bird species learn to fly:

• Blue Jays. Blue jays will fully fledge when they are three weeks old. However, they stay near their nests for a few more months and rely on their parents for food and protection. 
• Hummingbirds. Hummingbirds start to develop their wings when they are about two weeks old. They spend the next week building on their confidence and completely fledge when they are three weeks old.
• Northern Cardinals. Cardinals fledge when they are between 11-19 days old. They fledge faster when food is abundant.
• American Robin. American Robins attempt their first flight when they are two weeks old. They become entirely confident when they are 15-16 days old and leave the nest.
• Mourning Dove. Mourning doves take a month to learn how to fly confidently. They begin to experiment with flying when they are around two weeks old. 
• House Sparrow. Sparrows learn how to fly when they are two weeks old. They typically return to the same area they have been resting. 
  
  

How Long Do Baby Birds Stay In The Nest...Conclusion

How long baby birds stay in a nest depends on their breed and the type of nest they live in. It also depends on their ability to find food and confidence in walking (if they are flightless) or flying. Watching various birds will give you a better insight into their flying and nesting habits.

---

---

---

1. We Know Birds HOME
›
2. Bird Flight and Nesting Facts
›
3. How Long Do Baby Birds Stay in the Nest?

Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

Read More...

We Know Birds is an Amazon Associate. As an Amazon Associate we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.