Birds typically stay in the nest for varying lengths of time after hatching, depending largely on their species and developmental type:
- Small songbirds usually remain in the nest for about 10 to 14 days before fledging (leaving the nest). For example, robins fledge around 13 days after hatching, while barn swallows may stay 18 to 23 days, and pigeons 25 to 32 days
- Raptors and larger birds often stay much longer in the nest, sometimes 8 to 10 weeks or more. Bald eagles, for instance, may remain in the nest for 10 to 12 weeks, with some large birds like California condors staying up to 180 days before fledging
- Precocial birds (like ducks, quail, pheasants) are born relatively mature with down feathers and can leave the nest within hours or a few days after hatching, following their parents around to forage
- On average, most birds stay in the nest between 2 to 6 weeks, with small songbirds on the shorter end and larger birds on the longer end of this range
In summary, the length of time baby birds stay in the nest after hatching ranges from a few hours (precocial species) to several weeks or even months (larger raptors), with most small songbirds fledging within 10 to 20 days after hatching
