fledgelings
Birds learning flight
Fledgelings is a less common spelling of fledglings, meaning young birds that have recently grown flight feathers and are learning to fly.
By extension, it describes anyone new and inexperienced at something: The company hired several fledgelings fresh out of college.
The spelling with an e before the l is more British, while Americans typically drop it.
Unfledged young birds
- chicksNewly hatched birds
- hatchlingsRecently emerged young animals
- juvenilesUnderage individuals
- broodHatchlings as a group
cygnets · ducklings · goslings · owlets · pullets · squabs · eaglets · down
Inexperienced newcomers
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- traineesPeople being instructed
- apprenticesNovices learning a craft
- neophytesInexperienced newcomers
rookies · greenhorns · initiates · learners · students · interns · probationers · cadets
Without means to resist
- helplessUnable to act independently
- fragileEasily broken or damaged
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- exposedOut in open
dependent · susceptible · prey · unprotected · tender · inexperienced · naive · innocent
Process of becoming complete
- growthIncrease in size
- featheringAdjusting blade pitch horizontally
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
- branching outExpanding into new domains
leaving the nest · first flight · independence · survival skills · foraging · adaptation · instincts · musculature
Showing signs of success
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
- emergingComing into view
- nascentBeginning to develop
- aspiringSeeking to achieve
up-and-coming · prospective · incipient · untested · unproven · raw talent · rising · developing
nestlings
Unfledged young birds
- chicksNewly hatched birds
- hatchlingsRecently emerged young animals
- juvenilesUnderage individuals
brood · cygnets · ducklings · goslings · owlets · pullets · squabs · eaglets · down · beaks
novices
Inexperienced newcomers
- newcomersThose recently arrived
- traineesPeople being instructed
- apprenticesNovices learning a craft
neophytes · rookies · greenhorns · initiates · learners · students · interns · probationers · cadets · freshmen
defenseless
Without means to resist
exposed · dependent · susceptible · prey · unprotected · tender · inexperienced · naive · innocent · immature
maturation
Process of becoming complete
- growthIncrease in size
- featheringAdjusting blade pitch horizontally
- strengtheningIncreasing power or solidity
branching out · leaving the nest · first flight · independence · survival skills · foraging · adaptation · instincts · musculature · coordination
promising
Showing signs of success
aspiring · up-and-coming · prospective · incipient · untested · unproven · raw talent · rising · developing · latent ability