Depending on where you live, you may already have seen young birds outside the nest. These fledglings seem like gangly teenagers testing their independence but begging from parents when their own foraging didn’t quite work out.
These little birds aren’t faking it; they are downright hungry. Studies have shown that begging is an honest signal of hunger which prompts parents to continue feeding their offspring during the critical post-fledging period. During this time, young birds learn the skills they need to survive so they can make their first migratory journey or survive their first winter. Getting a needed boost from their parents makes sense, and researchers have found that fledgling begging intensity correlates with a bird’s level of need, ensuring that parents focus on those offspring requiring the most help.