What does brooding refer to in regards to birds?

Brooding refers to the behavior of adult birds, typically female, sitting on or closely covering their young chicks to provide warmth, protection, and safety. This critical parental duty helps to regulate the temperature of the chicks, especially in the early days after hatching when they are unable to thermoregulate effectively on their own. Brooding can involve the parent using their body to shield the chicks from the elements and to maintain a stable environment, essential for their survival and development.

While there are other important behaviors associated with rearing young birds, such as feeding or nesting, brooding specifically focuses on the parental role of physically sitting on or around the chicks. Incubating eggs, which is also an essential part of the reproductive process, involves a different set of behaviors and is typically referred to as incubating rather than brooding. Nesting behavior encompasses a broader range of activities related to the building and maintenance of a nest, rather than the direct care of the young after hatching.