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precocial

[ pri-koh-shuhl ]

adjective

, Biology.
  1. (of an animal species) active and able to move freely from birth or hatching and requiring little parental care ( altricial ).


precocial

/ prɪˈkəʊʃəl /

adjective

  1. (of the young of some species of birds after hatching) covered with down, having open eyes, and capable of leaving the nest within a few days of hatching
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a precocial bird
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

precocial

/ prĭ-kōshəl /

  1. Born or hatched in a condition requiring relatively little parental care, as by having hair or feathers, open eyes, and the ability to move about. Water birds, reptiles, and herd animals usually have precocial young.
  2. Compare altricial
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Word History and Origins

Origin of precocial1

First recorded in 1870–75; precoci(ous) + -al 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of precocial1

C19: see precocious
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Compare Meanings

How does precocial compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Example Sentences

Ducks are what scientists call precocial birds — capable of feeding, swimming and walking soon after hatching.

But most waterfowl young are precocial, which means they're fluffy, open-eyed, and capable of leaving the nest soon after hatching.

Even "precocial" creatures — ones that are able to move around almost immediately after hatching — come out of the egg with fluffy down feathers that eventually molt and are replaced by the feathers needed for flight.

The word for this immediate independence, by the way, is "precocial," which comes from the same root as "precocious," which I personally find delightful.

"The main conclusion was that this is the first evidence for a truly precocial dinosaur: one that matured rapidly and without parental care," Adelphi University paleontologist Michael D'Emic added.

From Reuters

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precludedprecocious