Which of the following is a precocial bird?

• A. Mallard duckling
• B. Robin chick
• C. Nightingale chick
• D. Canary chick

Answer: (A)

This question hinges on whether a bird chick is precocial or altricial. Precocial chicks hatch in a relatively advanced state: they have down, open eyes, and can move around and feed themselves soon after hatching. Mallard ducklings fit this pattern—they emerge from the egg with down and are immediately capable of swimming and foraging, though they may still rely on adults for protection and guidance. The robin chick, nightingale chick, and canary chick hatch in a more helpless condition: often featherless or downy, with eyes not fully open, and they cannot feed themselves or regulate body warmth yet, requiring substantial parental care for days to weeks. Therefore, the mallard duckling is the correct example of a precocial bird.