In most species, young birds continue to be fed and defended by the parents for days or weeks after they leave the nest.

🐦 in most songbirds, parental care continues for up to two weeks after fledgling
🐦 in larger species, the young stay close to the nest for several more weeks and continue to be fed for at least eight weeks to six months after leaving the nest
🐦 precocial young, like ducks, receive no food from their parents
🐦 most birds disperse individually in winter and do not stay together as a family
🐦 in some flocking species, pairs or groups might travel together for months or even years

[What It’s Like To Be A Bird, by D. Sibley]