Starving chicks become greedy birdsBaby starlings that have a rough start in life grow up to become

Starving chicks become greedy birds

Baby starlings that have a rough start in life grow up to become fatter and greedier than their more fortunate siblings.

Scientists from Newcastle University discovered that stress and difficulties as a chick made a long lasting impression on a starling’s relationship with food.

Birds that struggled against larger brothers or sisters for food early on were keener on finding food and tended to over-eat as adults.

The scientists suspect that the birds with a tougher start were behaving as if they were worried food might run out, suggesting that they have a ‘memory of hunger’ from when they were small which drives them to overeat when food is freely available.

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Images (top to bottom) Clare Andrews, Maggie.Smith,Jo Garbutt,Beverley Goodwin