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Naturally Selected

Short answer: Storks often lay several eggs that hatch days apart, so chicks differ in size. When food is scarce, parents may kill or eject the weakest chick, focusing care on those most likely to survive; biologists call this brood reduction.

White storks (Ciconia ciconia) have been filmed throwing chicks from nests. The footage shows a stork pushing a chick out of a nest.

VideoWrite-up2 sources
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What should you know about Naturally Selected?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Several eggs.

    DD-432-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Eggs)

  2. Days apart.

    DD-432-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (Hatching)

Video transcript: Naturally Selected: Stork Parents Sometimes Push a Weak Chick Out of the Nest

Did you know? Storks, like many other birds, may discard immature or weaker chicks under certain circumstances. This behavior, known as brood reduction, occurs when parents prioritize their resources for the healthiest offspring. To ensure their survival, storks often lay multiple eggs, but the hatchlings may not develop equally. If food is scarce or environmental conditions are harsh, the parents may push weaker chicks out of the nest, focusing on those with a better chance of thriving. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 23.5s Reel ·

Video coming soonNaturally Selected · Instagram Reel
Naturally Selected: Stork Parents Sometimes Push a Weak Chick Out of the Nest Instagram Reel · · 23.5s

The write-up

Stork parents sometimes push a weak chick out of the nest. Biologists call it brood reduction.

  1. Exhibit A

    Eggs

    Several eggs.

  2. Exhibit B

    Hatching

    Days apart.

  3. Exhibit C

    Food

    Scarcity drives it.

  4. Exhibit D

    Term

    Brood reduction.

  5. Exhibit E

    Storks

    White storks do it.

Questions people ask about Naturally Selected

What is it called?

Term.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Eggs) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

Why do chicks differ?

Asynchronous.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Hatching) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

When is it likely?

Resources.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Food) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

Which chick is removed?

Survival.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Term) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

Which stork is filmed doing it?

Europe.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Storks) · Wikipedia: White stork

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What is it called?

    1. Brood reduction
    2. Molting
    3. Migration
    4. Nesting
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Brood reduction Term. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Eggs) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

  2. Why do chicks differ?

    1. Hatch days apart
    2. Different parents
    3. Different species
    4. Diet only
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Hatch days apart Asynchronous. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Hatching) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

  3. When is it likely?

    1. Food scarcity
    2. Sunny days
    3. Winter only
    4. Never
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Food scarcity Resources. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Food) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

  4. Which chick is removed?

    1. The weakest
    2. The largest
    3. The first
    4. Random
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. The weakest Survival. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Term) · Wikipedia: Brood reduction

  5. Which stork is filmed doing it?

    1. White stork
    2. Marabou
    3. Shoebill
    4. Jabiru
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. White stork Europe. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Storks) · Wikipedia: White stork

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Naturally Selected." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-432, last updated Dec 18, 2024. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/naturally-selected/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/naturally-selected/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-432-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/naturally-selected/#DD-432-F01