Three and the Other One
These Great Blue Herons look ready to leave the nest and the hierarchy among the nestlings seems obvious. The dominant heron stands tall, and chatters with two of the others. All three of those herons' crests are elevated, and all three are animated.
The fourth heron sits crouched over, crest flat and in disarray. He is so far to the edge of the nest, that he appears on the verge of falling out.
This hierarchy can occur in many ways. For example, all of the eggs may not have hatched at the same time, and the ones that hatch first will have a head start at being fed and growing. The "sad sack" heron may have suffered an injury, an illness, or just received "bad genes" from its parents.
Three and the Other One
These Great Blue Herons look ready to leave the nest and the hierarchy among the nestlings seems obvious. The dominant heron stands tall, and chatters with two of the others. All three of those herons' crests are elevated, and all three are animated.
The fourth heron sits crouched over, crest flat and in disarray. He is so far to the edge of the nest, that he appears on the verge of falling out.
This hierarchy can occur in many ways. For example, all of the eggs may not have hatched at the same time, and the ones that hatch first will have a head start at being fed and growing. The "sad sack" heron may have suffered an injury, an illness, or just received "bad genes" from its parents.