17 Adorable Pictures of Baby Animals You’ll Love Instantly
Updated: Mar. 26, 2019We dare you not to smile while looking at these baby balls of fluff and feathers.
Cottontails, 10 days old
If you thought rabbits couldn’t get any cuter, this photo might just prove you wrong. Baby rabbits are also known as kits or kittens, which could get confusing if you search for “cute kittens” online. Either way, you’ll end up with a photo that will make you say “Awww!”
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Red kangaroo, four months old
Can you believe this guy was the size of a cherry when he was born? Joeys stay in their mothers’ pouches for up to six months before they start gradually venturing into the outside world. After a full year, they’re ready to hop out and pose for cute pictures like this one.
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Giraffe, five weeks old
There’s nothing “little” about baby giraffes, also known as calves. They’re born about six feet tall, often weighing up to 200 pounds!
Harbor seal, two weeks old
Those whiskers, those big eyes—that’s definitely a face all mothers (and non-mothers) can love. Harbour seal pups form strong bonds with their moms and make a bleating noise that sounds like “maaaa” when they want their mommies.
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Mallard duckling, one week old
In one of our many pictures of baby animals, this wee one proves there’s nothing ugly about this duckling. Ducklings are able to walk and swim just hours after hatching, but they choose to stay close to their mothers and siblings for their first few weeks, which is why you see them parading in a line when walking and swimming.
Pigeon, one to two weeks old
Pigeons are everywhere in big cities, but baby pigeons, or squabs, aren’t as easy to spot. That’s because pigeons tend to build their nests very high up in urban structures that mimic cliffs—places like rooftops and ledges—and under bridges. They stay in the nest for up to six weeks, and by the time they emerge, they look just like their parents. Talk about family resemblance!
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Red-shouldered hawk, three weeks old
When hawks are just hatchlings, their stares can still be pretty intimidating—and they’re not even independent yet. Hatchlings leave the nest at about six weeks old, but they stay with their parents and depend on them for food and protection for another couple of months.
White-footed mouse, two weeks old
This sleepy little field mouse was just a few centimetres long when he was born. Luckily, size doesn’t matter when you look this lovable.
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Coyote, eight weeks old
When coyote babies like this little guy are born, both the mother and father help to care for the pups. Sometimes older siblings will also help. Coyote pups are considered mature at about nine months, at which time some will leave home while others will continue to live with the pack.
Green heron, three weeks old
Green herons perform elaborate courtship displays to attract a mate by calling, snapping their bills, and craning their necks. Once pairing and mating have occurred, both parents help incubate and feed the hatchlings, which will remain with their parents until they are about one month old.
Opossum, four weeks old
This opossum baby was as small as a bee when it was born and spent at least 70 days in its mother’s pouch before emerging on its own. Their long, hairless tails enable baby opossums to climb and hang from trees without falling, but young opossums will not actually sleep hanging upside down until they are adults.
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Painted turtle, less than one year old
This cutie’s beautiful shell is a work of art. Painted turtles shed pieces of their shells as they grow bigger. Turtle shells are made of bone covered by separate sections of keratin called scutes. As a young turtle grows, new layers of scutes will form, eventually causing the old ones to peel off.
Can’t get enough cute baby animals?
For more sweet pictures of baby animals, check out Wild Babies: Photographs of Baby Animals from Giraffes to Hummingbirds by Traer Scott, published by Chronicle Books in 2016.
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