How do birds learn how to build nests?
A. Most birds know, probably from a combination of instinct and imprinting on the nest they grew up in, how to build their first nest, but their skills improve with practice. In a few species, such as the Florida Scrub-Jay, year-old birds sometimes remain with their parents, helping them raise the next year’s young. This gives the older siblings opportunities to observe exactly what’s involved in building a nest and raising babies.
