Why fledge early in the day? Examining the role of predation risk in explaining fledging behavior

Predation represents the primary cause of mortality for both nestling and fledgling birds and is often greatest in the days immediately before and after nest departure. Due to the selective pressures of such high mortality rates, behaviors likely evolved to increase the survival of young. Among altricial species, fledging often occurs in the morning with most nestlings leaving within 6 h of sunrise. However , why nestlings tend to fledge in the...