Subject: Re: Are there standardized definitions?
Date: Feb 5 11:28:00 1996
From: "Dan Stephens" - dstephen at ctc.ctc.edu


In message <Pine.PTX.3.91j.960205094015.22984A-100000 at carson.u.washington.edu>
writes:
> Dan et al,
>
> Your out-of-the-nest definitions for juvenile, immature, and subadult are
> essentially those I recently encountered. Thanks for clarifying the use of
> juvenile (noun) and juvenal (adjective). Question: A bird in natal down is
> a hatchling, nestling or fledgling depending on stage of behavioral
> development? Can the terms juvenile or immature be applied to birds still
> in the nest? I'm asking in reference to what is appropriate in
> professional ornithology journal or communication styles.
>
Maureen, Hatchling usually refers to a bird that is only a few hours old.
Nestling to a bird still in the nest (includes hatchling), and fledgling to
a bird that has just left the nest, has feathers but they are not fully
developed (are weak flyers), and depends on its parents for food.


Dan Stephens (509) 662-7443
Dept. of Biology fax: (509) 664-2538
Wenatchee Valley College e-mail: dstephen at ctc.edu
1300 Fifth Street
Wenatchee, WA 98801