Placing an orphaned songbird chick into another nest with similarly aged chicks is generally:

• A. A bad idea because parents would not feed it
• B. A good method for handling orphaned chicks
• C. Not effective for any songbird species
• D. Only recommended for migrating birds

Answer: (B)

Placing an orphaned songbird chick into a nest with similarly aged chicks uses natural parental care to give the orphan the best chance at survival. When the nest is active and the chick matches the age of the nestlings, the parents will feed and brood it just like the others, providing appropriate growth rates, feeding schedules, and social learning without the risks that come with hand-rearing. This approach also reduces the risk of imprinting on humans, which can happen with frequent handling. It’s not a universal fix—success depends on evaluating whether the nest is safe, the species is compatible, and the chick is truly age-appropriate—but when feasible it’s generally a better option than hand-rearing.