brood patch

anatomy

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A brood patch is a featherless, fluid-filled area on a bird's abdomen or breast that develops seasonally. This specialized area is rich in blood vessels and is used to transfer heat from the adult bird's body to its eggs during incubation. After the eggs hatch, parent birds also use their brood patches to keep their young warm, spreading their feathers like an umbrella to maintain contact with the chicks' skin. This behavior is crucial for the survival of developing embryos and young birds, especially in species that do not have other means of providing consistent warmth.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

bird
Nesting
In most birds a brood patch on the abdomen is developed. This bare area is fluid-filled (edematous) and highly vascularized; it directly contacts the eggs during incubation. Its development during the breeding season is under hormonal control. When the parent is off the nest, adjacent feathers are directed over…
Read More
In most birds a brood patch on the abdomen is developed. This bare area is fluid-filled (edematous) and highly vascularized; it directly contacts the eggs during incubation. Its development during the breeding season is under hormonal control. When the parent is off the nest, adjacent feathers are directed over…
Read More

reproductive behaviour
Parental care
…blood vessels), forming the so-called brood patches. Usually the female develops these patches, which serve to transfer more effectively to the eggs the warmth from the adult’s body. It has been shown that, like much of parental behaviour in the higher vertebrates, brood patches and “broodiness” are controlled by several…
Read More
…blood vessels), forming the so-called brood patches. Usually the female develops these patches, which serve to transfer more effectively to the eggs the warmth from the adult’s body. It has been shown that, like much of parental behaviour in the higher vertebrates, brood patches and “broodiness” are controlled by several…
Read More

brooding
Many birds develop a brood patch—an area of bare, featherless skin on the underbody—in preparation for incubation and brooding. A network of blood vessels in the skin of the brood patch raises the temperature locally. After the hatch, the parent birds brood their young, keeping them warm by spreading…
Read More
Many birds develop a brood patch—an area of bare, featherless skin on the underbody—in preparation for incubation and brooding. A network of blood vessels in the skin of the brood patch raises the temperature locally. After the hatch, the parent birds brood their young, keeping them warm by spreading…
Read More