Precocial species in birds and mammals are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. They are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or … 展开

In birds and mammals altricial species are those whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile, lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food … 展开

In birds, the terms Aves altrices and Aves precoces were introduced by Carl Jakob Sundevall (1836), and the terms nidifugous and nidicolous by Lorenz Oken in 1816. The two classifications were considered identical in early times, but the meanings are slightly … 展开

• Starck J.M.; Ricklefs R.E. (1998). "Patterns of Development: The Altricial – Precocial Spectrum". Avian Growth and Development. New York: 展开

Precocial young have open eyes, hair or down, large brains, and are immediately mobile and somewhat able to flee from or defend themselves … 展开

The span between precocial and altricial species is particularly broad in the biology of birds. Precocial birds hatch with their eyes open and are covered with downy feathers that are soon replaced by adult-type feathers. Birds of this kind can also swim and run much … 展开

• Parental investment
• Precocious puberty 展开