Fledging is when young bluebirds leave their nest for the first time, marking their physical capability of flight. Bluebirds typically fledge within 16 to 25 days after hatching, though this timeframe can vary.
Inside the Nest: From Hatching to Fledging
Bluebird nestlings develop rapidly within the nest. Upon hatching, chicks are blind and naked, relying completely on their parents for warmth and food. By the second day, their skin shows signs of developing feathers, with pin feathers becoming evident by day three.
Between days five and six, the nestlings’ eyes begin to open, and by day seven or eight, they start to regulate their own body temperature. Wing feathers emerge around day eleven, and by day thirteen, the nestlings are largely feathered. By days fifteen and sixteen, they are fully feathered, with short tail feathers still growing.
As they approach fledging, typically around day twelve, nestlings become more restless, preening their feathers and stretching their developing wings. While they can perform short flights by day fourteen, they generally do not leave the nest before day sixteen unless disturbed. Environmental factors like food availability and prevailing weather conditions can influence the exact duration of this nestling period, with abundant food potentially leading to slightly earlier fledging, and cooler temperatures potentially extending it.
The First Flight
The first flight is a key moment for young bluebirds. This event usually occurs within a two-hour window for the entire brood, though occasionally a nestling might remain behind until the following day. The departure can happen at any time from early morning to late evening.
Prior to leaving, chicks often position themselves at the nest entrance, calling for food from their parents. Parents encourage this step, sometimes luring the young out with food held just out of reach. The initial flights are often short and can appear clumsy, with some young birds not traveling far and potentially landing on the ground.
Parents typically accompany their fledglings on these first flights, remembering where each bird lands to continue feeding them. A distinctive call given by the fledgling helps parents locate their scattered young. Once they have left, bluebird fledglings do not return to the nest.
Life Beyond the Nest
Fledging is a major developmental step, but it does not mean immediate independence. After leaving the nest, fledglings remain entirely reliant on their parents for food for approximately the first week. They spend this time hidden in nearby vegetation, continuing to call persistently for their parents to bring them food.
Parent bluebirds continue to care for their fledglings for about three weeks after they leave the nest. During this period, the young birds begin to practice flying more extensively and learn survival skills. They observe and mimic their parents, gradually learning to forage for themselves, including adopting the “sit-wait-and-drop” strategy to catch insects.
As fledglings become more proficient at finding their own food, parental feeding gradually decreases. Young bluebirds typically become fully nutritionally independent around 40 days after hatching, which is when they begin to move further away from the family unit.