fledge
verb
ˈflej 
fledged; fledging
intransitive verb
of a young bird : to acquire the feathers necessary for flight or independent activity
also : to leave the nest after acquiring such feathers
transitive verb
1
: to rear until ready for flight or independent activity
2
: to cover with or as if with feathers or down
3
: to furnish (something) with feathers
feather an arrow
Example Sentences
The young birds haven't yet fledged.
Recent Examples on the Web The United States Forest Service announced a partial closure of the Peaks Crag climbing area in the Coconino National Forest in Flagstaff from March 15 to August 15 of 2022, though the closure may end sooner if the young falcons fledge. 
Adam Terro, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2022 Born last spring, #1111 is the second condor ever to fledge, or learn to fly, in Zion. The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Jan. 2022 Birders said the animals were about to fledge from their nest and appeared to be perfectly healthy, but a federal wildlife official said the ospreys weren’t close to fledging. Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2021 In some cases, the natural chicks don't thrive and only the cowbird chick survives to fledge from the nest. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 Once the babies fledge at 35 days, International Bird Rescue plans to release the terns back into the wild. Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2021 For those who put up bird nesting boxes in spring, now is a good time to watch for the young to fledge. Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, 9 July 2021 In many other cases, all chicks fledge, but the parents work nearly to exhaustion to satisfy the large interloper. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 The cliffs where birds set up nests will stay closed for the rest of the breeding season, until the chicks fledge sometime around late July. Rebekah Wahlberg, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Mar. 2021 See More
Adam Terro, The Arizona Republic, 15 Mar. 2022 Born last spring, #1111 is the second condor ever to fledge, or learn to fly, in Zion. The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Jan. 2022 Birders said the animals were about to fledge from their nest and appeared to be perfectly healthy, but a federal wildlife official said the ospreys weren’t close to fledging. Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2021 In some cases, the natural chicks don't thrive and only the cowbird chick survives to fledge from the nest. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 Once the babies fledge at 35 days, International Bird Rescue plans to release the terns back into the wild. Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2021 For those who put up bird nesting boxes in spring, now is a good time to watch for the young to fledge. Sheryl Devore, chicagotribune.com, 9 July 2021 In many other cases, all chicks fledge, but the parents work nearly to exhaustion to satisfy the large interloper. Val Cunningham Special To The Star Tribune, Star Tribune, 6 July 2021 The cliffs where birds set up nests will stay closed for the rest of the breeding season, until the chicks fledge sometime around late July. Rebekah Wahlberg, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Mar. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
fledge capable of flying, from Middle English flegge, from Old English -flycge; akin to Old High German flucki capable of flying, Old English flēogan to fly — more at fly
First Known Use
1566, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense