Brood patch

Feathers act as inherent insulators and prevent efficient incubation, to which brood patches are the solution.

This patch of skin is well supplied with blood vessels at the surface, enabling heat transfer to the eggs when incubating.

Feathers regrow sooner after hatching in precocial birds than for those that have altricial young.

Pelicans, penguins, boobies, and gannets do not develop brood patches but cradle the eggs on their feet.

[4] In species where both parents incubate, brood patches may develop in both sexes.