Magpie (Pica pica) Science Article 11
abstract
In many animals immunity is not fully developed until adulthood but the youngstill need protection against various sets of pathogens. Thus, bird nestlings are highlydependent on antibodies received from their mother (in the eggs) during their rapidearly growth period.
MARJO PIHLAJA, HELI SIITARI and RAUNO V. ALATALO, Journal of Animal Ecology 2006