(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
noun
2.
a precocial bird
Compare altricial
Word origin
C19: see precocious
precocial in American English
(priˈkoʊʃəl)
adjective
designating or of birds whose newly hatched young are covered with down and fully active
see also altricial
Word origin
< ModL praecoces (< L, pl. of praecox: see precocious), precocial birds + -al