Birds hatch their eggs primarily by keeping them at a consistent, warm temperature through incubation.
Here's a breakdown of the incubation process:
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Incubation: Almost all birds incubate their eggs to provide the necessary warmth for the embryos to develop. According to the provided reference, they do this by sitting on the eggs and incubating them.
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Brood Patch: Many birds have a specialized area of bare skin on their abdomen called a "brood patch." This patch allows for more efficient heat transfer from the parent bird to the eggs, as stated in the reference: "...often transferring heat via a temporarily bare area of abdominal skin called the "brood patch."
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Alternative Heat Transfer Methods: While the brood patch is common, some birds employ different methods. The reference mentions, "A few birds, like penguins, pelicans, and gannets, transfer heat through their webbed feet." These birds use their feet to keep the eggs warm.
