"downy nestlings"

#13149442

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. A Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13149443

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. A Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 12, 2025.

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#13149445

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on April 12, 2025.

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#13149446

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. A Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on November 25, 2025.

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#13149447

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove haphazardly builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on December 6, 2025.

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#13149451

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove haphazardly builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on December 6, 2025.

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#13149464

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove haphazardly builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on December 6, 2025.

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#13149465

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove haphazardly builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on December 6, 2025.

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#13149471

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 12, 2025.

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#13149474

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. Here, a Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on July 12, 2025.

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#13149481

2 January 2026

Spotted dove or eastern spotted dove (Spilopelia chinensis) chicks hatch from one or two glossy white eggs after about 13-16 days of incubation by both parents on a nest made of twigs, grasses, and roots. They emerge as helpless, downy nestlings and are blind, fed with "crop milk" by their parents until they fledge around two weeks later. They stay near their parents for another week or two for feeding. At four days old, they are still very young and entirely dependent on their parents for warmth and food. They are small and fragile, with eyes likely still closed or just beginning to open. They do not yet have their distinctive spotted neck pattern or adult feathers; those develop as they mature. A Spotted dove builds a nest and lays eggs, hatching its young next to a broom made of coconut fronds by a house in Tehatta, West Bengal, India, on December 9, 2025.

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#12711305

3 September 2025

A black-bellied whistling duck ducks down as it passes another at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida. Also known as the tree duck for its habit of roosting and nesting in tree cavities, the species is highly social and communicates constantly through whistling calls.

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#12619668

6 August 2025

The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) collects thistle plant down in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 8, 2025. American goldfinches utilize thistle plant down to line their nests and also consume thistle seeds. This behavior is so characteristic that they are sometimes nicknamed 'thistle birds'. The downy material from mature thistles provides insulation for the nest, and the seeds are a primary food source, even for nestlings.

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#12619669

6 August 2025

The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) perches on a thistle plant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 2, 2025. American goldfinches utilize thistle plant down to line their nests and also consume thistle seeds. This behavior is so characteristic that they are sometimes nicknamed 'thistle birds'. The downy material from mature thistles provides insulation for the nest, and the seeds are a primary food source, even for nestlings.

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#12619674

6 August 2025

The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) perches on a thistle plant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 2, 2025. American goldfinches utilize thistle plant down to line their nests and also consume thistle seeds. This behavior is so characteristic that they are sometimes nicknamed 'thistle birds'. The downy material from mature thistles provides insulation for the nest, and the seeds are a primary food source, even for nestlings.

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#12619675

6 August 2025

The American goldfinch (Spinus tristis) perches on a thistle plant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on August 2, 2025. American goldfinches utilize thistle plant down to line their nests and also consume thistle seeds. This behavior is so characteristic that they are sometimes nicknamed 'thistle birds'. The downy material from mature thistles provides insulation for the nest, and the seeds are a primary food source, even for nestlings.

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