Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
The adults have an interesting behavior of feeding feathers to their chicks. This behavior is known as "feather feeding" or "feather regurgitation".
Feather feeding is believed to serve multiple functions:
1. Assisting with food digestion: The feathers act as a protective lining in the chick's stomach, aiding in the grinding and digestion of the solid food the chicks consume.
2. Providing nutrients: Feathers contain keratin, a protein-rich substance that can be partially digested. By regurgitating feathers, the adult grebes are providing their chicks with additional nutrients.
3. Encouraging food intake: In some cases, feather feeding might help stimulate the chicks to eat more solid food, especially during the transition from a diet primarily consisting of insects to a diet of fish.
Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
The adults have an interesting behavior of feeding feathers to their chicks. This behavior is known as "feather feeding" or "feather regurgitation".
Feather feeding is believed to serve multiple functions:
1. Assisting with food digestion: The feathers act as a protective lining in the chick's stomach, aiding in the grinding and digestion of the solid food the chicks consume.
2. Providing nutrients: Feathers contain keratin, a protein-rich substance that can be partially digested. By regurgitating feathers, the adult grebes are providing their chicks with additional nutrients.
3. Encouraging food intake: In some cases, feather feeding might help stimulate the chicks to eat more solid food, especially during the transition from a diet primarily consisting of insects to a diet of fish.