Do you know what a fledgling is and how to distinguish them from adults? Birds have several stages of development. Once they are hatched they are nestlings, and will stay in the nest full-time until they are developed enough to start to leave the nest. This stage is when birds become fledglings. Most species are unable to fly at first as they venture out from the nest but with their parent's supervision, they will start to learn. Fledglings have shorter feathers than adults and will often be ‘ch