This strange bald spot appears on birds' chests every year. What it is? (6 photos)

Birds have one interesting adaptation - a brood spot. This is a special area of skin that becomes bald when the feathered parent begins to hatch eggs. This device is extremely useful for chicks.





Firstly, the breast area is dotted with blood vessels, which is why the temperature of the brood spot is 1-2 degrees higher than that of the rest of the body.



By the way, real bird's milk exists. This is semi-digested food that some species of birds regurgitate to their chicks (pigeons, penguins, parrots).

Secondly, the mother bird, losing its feathers, minimizes the loss of precious heat through the feathers - the clutch and chicks are warmed directly by the parent’s body.





Even cool birds of prey look ridiculous in this pose.

Usually the side down of birds copes with covering obscenity. But sometimes, due to the accumulation of lymph, the brood spot swells and the bald patch is visible. This is also done for a reason: all in order to increase the open surface that will be pressed against the eggs!



In some species, the brood spot does not form. In Anseriformes, for example. Because it’s cool to swim naked in the water. Waterfowl warm the eggs with their paws and hug their growing babies.

And now you, dear reader, have read up to this line and are rightly asking: why was there a story about bird’s milk at the beginning? To answer, I suggest taking a trip into the past.



Location of the brood spot in different bird species.

Let's go back a couple thousand years. You are a brave traveler walking through the forest weeds. It seems like there are no signs of surprises, and then you touch some bush, and a bird flies out from there and flashes its bare chest without feathers. A quick inspection of the crime scene reveals a nest with eggs, perhaps even a couple of chicks. And then you remember the strange sight of a bird that scared you.



What are you looking at, I haven’t gotten dressed yet!

Since you are a person from the past, you have little scientific knowledge about nature, but imagination - be healthy! What will a naked bird's chest look like, reddened, swollen, taking into account the fact that the bird is either about to have babies or already has babies? On the mammary glands with which the bird feeds its offspring! And since birds have similar breasts, then so does the corresponding product! But since the feathered bird with its bare belly does not shine left and right, then the story abruptly moves towards magic and fairy tales. Since it’s rare, that means magic is no different!