Young Fledged Robin Atop Head Of Dog Statue In Garden - Turdus Migratorius Royalty-Free Stock Photo

Fledging is the stage in a flying animal`s life between hatching or birth and becoming capable of flight. This term is most frequently applied to birds. All birds are considered to have fledged when the feathers and wing muscles are sufficiently developed for flight. A young bird that has recently fledged but is still dependent upon parental care and feeding is called a fledgling. In many species, parents continue to care for their fledged young, either by leading them to food sources, or feeding them. Birds are vulnerable after they have left the nest, but before they can fly, though once fledged their chances of survival increase dramatically.