Do Birds Count Eggs In Their Nests
By: NDTVNewsDesk
Image: Pexels
Most birds do not count eggs, but they rely on the tactile feeling of the eggs against their brood patch to know when to start incubating.
Image: Pexels
Some species seem to use sight to determine if eggs are foreign or to adjust their clutch size.
Image: Pexels
The most common method is sensing the clutch size through the brood patch.
Image: Pexels
It is a featherless area on the bird's belly that is sensitive to touch and warmth.
Image: Pexels
This helps regulate the number of eggs laid, with the process often disrupted by the physical presence of the eggs.
Image: Pexels
Some species, like American Coots, appear to be able to recognise and respond to foreign eggs by sight.
Image: Pexels
In parrots, removing eggs often prompts the bird to lay more until a perceived "correct" number is reached.
Image: Pexels
This method suggests a more complex system than simple counting.
Image: Pexels
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