Eggs in the center of the nest are usually warmer than other eggs. However, eggs of most wild birds can tolerate a considerable degree of chilling, an obvious adaptation to the absences of the incubating bird. The ring-necked pheasant hen typically leaves her nest for about an hour each day, during which time the eggs cool to air temperature. The female lays ten eggs in a first nest, leaves this nest for about fourteen days and lays a clutch in a second nest, and then returns to the first nest to incubate. The male incubates the second clutch.
Incubation is shared by both parents in doves and pigeons.
From the Authors We have tried to acknowledge all of the sources from which we borrowed to complete this book. It is possible that some sources were inadvertently missed. We offer our apologies for any omissions and hope they are brought to our attention. David Hancock deserves special thanks for his contribution of color plates and his interest in game birds, as this has made this publication possible. And finally, we would like to thank Myron Shutty who did a splendid edit synthesizing three writers style into a common language and David Bender who proofread, corrected and updated our scientific terminology and natural history coverage.