...and yes, we have a new word for today... "altrical". do you know it already? answer below, in case (like me) you did not.
Anyway, this is the lovely Nuthatch, and its their habit of wedging a large food item in a crevice and then hacking at it with their strong bills gives this group its English name.
Remarkably, and I think that they are the only bird able to do this, they are able to descend head-first downwards. They are also able to hang upside-down beneath twigs and branches.
OK, here is your answer......The eggs are incubated for 12 to 18 days by the female alone, or by both parents, depending on the species. The altricial (naked and helpless) chicks take between 21 and 27 days to fledge. To expand on these new words i found - according to wikipedia (and 3 new words for me) : Altricial species are those in which the young are underdeveloped at the time of birth, but with the aid of their parents mature after birth. Precocial species in birds and mammals are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normally nidifugous, meaning that they leave the nest shortly after birth or hatching.
and for the more spiritually minded amongst us "They represent the significance of home, protection, and family bonds. Harmony and Balance: Nuthatches' graceful movements and interactions with their environment reflect harmony and balance. Their behaviour serves as a reminder of the delicate equilibrium that exists within nature and the need to maintain that balance".
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