Brood-parasitism
a form of social parasitism practiced by certain birds, as cuckoos and cowbirds, in which eggs are laid in the nests of other birds, causing them to be hatched and the young reared by the hosts, often at the cost of the hosts’ own young.
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- Brood-patch
incubation patch. a highly vascular, featherless area developed on the abdomen of certain brooding birds that is in direct contact with eggs during incubation and provides additional warmth.
- Brooded
a number of young produced or hatched at one time; a family of offspring or young. a breed, species, group, or kind: The museum exhibited a brood of monumental sculptures. to sit upon (eggs) to hatch, as a bird; incubate. (of a bird) to warm, protect, or cover (young) with the wings or body. to […]
- Brooder
a device or structure for the rearing of young chickens or other birds. a person or animal that broods. a number of young produced or hatched at one time; a family of offspring or young. a breed, species, group, or kind: The museum exhibited a brood of monumental sculptures. to sit upon (eggs) to hatch, […]
- Broody
moody; gloomy. inclined to sit on eggs: a broody hen. Historical Examples Our Domestic Birds John H. Robinson The Lost Wagon James Arthur Kjelgaard Lives of the Fur Folk M. D. Haviland Our Domestic Birds John H. Robinson The Library of Work and Play: Outdoor Work Mary Rogers Miller Ducks and Geese Harry M. Lamon […]
- Broodiness
moody; gloomy. inclined to sit on eggs: a broody hen. Historical Examples The Dollar Hen Milo M. Hastings Ducks and Geese Harry M. Lamon adjective broodier, broodiest moody; meditative; introspective (of poultry) wishing to sit on or hatch eggs (informal) (of a woman) wishing to have a baby of her own adj.