Birds, in general, do not possess a strong counting ability. This characteristic allows certain opportunistic birds, like cuckoos, to lay additional eggs in other birds’ nests, effectively tricking them into raising their young as their own.

If a bird’s entire nest goes missing, it will likely start constructing a new one, possibly in the same location. However, if an egg or chick is missing from the nest, the bird will typically continue with its life, focusing on hatching and feeding the remaining chicks without showing much concern for the missing offspring.