altricial

adjective Zoology. (of an animal species)

1. helpless at birth or hatching and requiring parental care for a period of time (opposed to precocial.)

adjective

1. (of the young of some species of birds after hatching) naked, blind, and dependent on the parents for food

noun

2. an altricial bird, such as a pigeon

1. Born or hatched in a helpless condition requiring prolonged parental care, as by being naked, blind, or unable to move about. Nesting birds, monotremes, marsupials, and carnivores have altricial young. Compare precocial.