Brood vs. Clutch — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 29, 2024
Brood refers to all offspring that a pair of birds or certain animals raise together during a breeding attempt; clutch is the group of eggs laid by a bird at one time.
Difference Between Brood and Clutch
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Key Differences
A brood typically includes all the young nurtured by parents at the same time, encompassing both the hatching and care phases. Whereas, a clutch specifically refers to the actual set of eggs produced and incubated before hatching. This distinction is crucial in understanding avian reproduction.
Brood can also imply the act of brooding, which includes the incubation of eggs by the parent and the care of the young after they hatch. On the other hand, clutch has no such connotation, being limited to the context of egg-laying.
In terms of parental care, a brood usually benefits from the continued protection and feeding by the parents post-hatching. Clutch, however, is solely about the eggs and does not extend to post-hatching care.
When discussing survival strategies, the size of a brood might affect the survival rate of the offspring, considering the resources required for nurturing the young. Whereas, the size of a clutch might reflect on reproductive strategies, such as laying many eggs to ensure at least some survive to maturity.
Comparison Chart
Definition
The offspring raised by parents
The eggs laid at one time
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Context
Includes care post-hatching
Limited to pre-hatching phase
Parental involvement
Parents nurture until independence
Focus on egg incubation
Reproductive strategy
More about nurturing and survival
More about maximizing initial output
Usage in sentences
Used in broader reproductive terms
Used specifically for egg-laying
Compare with Definitions
Brood
Implies the total care process from eggs to independent offspring.
Ducks have larger broods than eagles.
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device that engages and disengages power transmission, especially from a drive shaft (driving shaft) to a driven shaft. In the simplest application, clutches connect and disconnect two rotating shafts (drive shafts or line shafts).
Brood
The young of certain animals, especially a group of young birds hatched at one time and cared for together.
Clutch
To grasp and hold tightly
A child clutching a blanket.
Brood
The children in one family.
Clutch
To seize; snatch
Clutched the banana from my hand.
Brood
To focus the attention on a subject persistently and moodily; worry
Brooded about his future.
Brooded over the insult for several days.
Clutch
To attempt to grasp or seize
Clutch at a life raft.
Brood
To be depressed
All he seemed to do was sit and brood.
Clutch
To engage or disengage a motor vehicle's clutch.
Brood
To sit on or hatch eggs.
Clutch
To hatch (chicks).
Brood
To protect developing eggs or young.
Clutch
A hand, claw, talon, or paw in the act of grasping.
Brood
To hover envelopingly; hang
Mist brooded over the moor.
Clutch
A tight grasp.
Brood
To think about (something) persistently or moodily
Brooded that her work might come to nothing.
Clutch
Often clutches Control or power
Caught in the clutches of sin.
Brood
To sit on or hatch (eggs).
Clutch
A device for gripping and holding.
Brood
To protect (developing eggs or young).
Clutch
Any of various devices for engaging and disengaging two working parts of a shaft or of a shaft and a driving mechanism.
Brood
Kept for breeding
A brood hen.
Clutch
The apparatus, such as a lever or pedal, that activates one of these devices.
Brood
The young of certain animals, especially a group of young birds or fowl hatched at one time by the same mother.
Clutch
A tense, critical situation
Came through in the clutch.
Brood
(uncountable) The young of any egg-laying creature, especially if produced at the same time.
Clutch
A small, strapless purse that is carried in the hand.
Brood
The eggs and larvae of social insects such as bees, ants and some wasps, especially when gathered together in special brood chambers or combs within the colony.
Clutch
The complete set of eggs produced or incubated at one time.
Brood
The children in one family; offspring.
Clutch
A brood of chickens.
Brood
That which is bred or produced; breed; species.
Clutch
A group; a bunch.
Brood
Parentage.
Clutch
Being or occurring in a tense or critical situation
Won the championship by sinking a clutch putt.
Brood
(mining) Heavy waste in tin and copper ores.
Clutch
Tending to be successful in tense or critical situations
The coach relied on her clutch pitcher.
Brood
(of animals) Kept or reared for breeding.
Brood ducks
A brood mare
Clutch
To seize, as though with claws.
To clutch power
Brood
(transitive) To keep an egg warm to make it hatch.
In some species of birds, both the mother and father brood the eggs.
Clutch
To grip or grasp tightly.
She clutched her purse tightly and walked nervously into the building.
Brood
(transitive) To protect (something that is gradually maturing); to foster.
Under the rock was a midshipman fish, brooding a mass of eggs.
Clutch
(video games) To win in a 1vX (one versus X) situation.
Brood
(intransitive) (typically with about or over) To dwell upon moodily and at length, mainly alone.
Clutch
To unexpectedly or luckily succeed in a difficult activity.
Brood
(intransitive) To be bred.
Clutch
(transitive) To hatch.
Brood
The young birds hatched at one time; a hatch; as, a brood of chickens.
As a hen doth gather her brood under her wings.
A hen followed by a brood of ducks.
Clutch
The claw of a predatory animal or bird.
Brood
The young from the same dam, whether produced at the same time or not; young children of the same mother, especially if nearly of the same age; offspring; progeny; as, a woman with a brood of children.
The lion roars and gluts his tawny brood.
Clutch
(by extension) A grip, especially one seen as rapacious or evil.
Brood
That which is bred or produced; breed; species.
Flocks of the airy brood,(Cranes, geese or long-necked swans).
Clutch
A device to interrupt power transmission, commonly used to separate the engine and gearbox in a car.
Brood
Heavy waste in tin and copper ores.
Clutch
The pedal in a car that disengages power and torque transmission from the engine (through the drivetrain) to the drive wheels.
Brood
Sitting or inclined to sit on eggs.
Clutch
Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
Brood
Kept for breeding from; as, a brood mare; brood stock; having young; as, a brood sow.
Clutch
A fastener that attaches to the back of a tack pin to secure an accessory to clothing. Clutch (pin fastener).}}
Brood
To sit on and cover eggs, as a fowl, for the purpose of warming them and hatching the young; or to sit over and cover young, as a hen her chickens, in order to warm and protect them; hence, to sit quietly, as if brooding.
Birds of calm sir brooding on the charmed wave.
Clutch
A small handbag or purse with no straps or handle.
Brood
To have the mind dwell continuously or moodily on a subject; to think long and anxiously; to be in a state of gloomy, serious thought; - usually followed by over or on; as, to brood over misfortunes.
Brooding on unprofitable gold.
Brooding over all these matters, the mother felt like one who has evoked a spirit.
When with downcast eyes we muse and brood.
Clutch
A brood of chickens or a sitting of eggs.
Brood
To sit over, cover, and cherish; as, a hen broods her chickens.
Clutch
A group or bunch (of people or things).
Brood
To cherish with care.
Clutch
(US) An important or critical situation.
Brood
To think anxiously or moodily upon.
You'll sit and brood your sorrows on a throne.
Clutch
A difficult maneuver
Brood
The young of an animal cared for at one time
Clutch
Performing or tending to perform well in difficult, high-pressure situations.
Brood
Think moodily or anxiously about something
Clutch
A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws; seizure; grasp.
An expiring clutch at popularity.
But Age, with his stealing steps,Hath clawed me in his clutch.
Brood
Hang over, as of something threatening, dark, or menacing;
The terrible vision brooded over her all day long
Clutch
The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; - often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into the clutches of an adversary.
I must have . . . little care of myself, if I ever more come near the clutches of such a giant.
Brood
Be in a huff and display one's displeasure;
She is pouting because she didn't get what she wanted
Clutch
A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.
Brood
Be in a huff; be silent or sullen
Clutch
Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or tackle.
Brood
Sit on (eggs);
Birds brood
The female covers the eggs
Clutch
The nest complement of eggs of a bird.
Brood
Refers to all offspring cared for by the parents during a single breeding season.
The robin’s brood was learning to fly.
Clutch
To seize, clasp, or grip with the hand, hands, or claws; - often figuratively; as, to clutch power.
A man may set the poles together in his head, and clutch the whole globe at one intellectual grasp.
Is this a dagger which I see before me . . . ?Come, let me clutch thee.
Brood
Can describe the act of sitting on eggs to incubate them.
The hen brooded over her eggs patiently.
Clutch
To close tightly; to clinch.
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand.
Brood
Used metaphorically to describe worrying or pondering deeply.
She brooded over the decision for days.
Clutch
To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; - often followed by at.
Brood
In broader terms, relates to any group of youngsters born at the same time.
A brood of puppies played in the yard.
Clutch
To become too tense or frightened to perform properly; used sometimes with up; as, he clutched up on the exam.
Clutch
The act of grasping;
He released his clasp on my arm
He has a strong grip for an old man
She kept a firm hold on the railing
Clutch
A tense critical situation;
He is a good man in the clutch
Clutch
A number of birds hatched at the same time
Clutch
A collection of things or persons to be handled together
Clutch
A pedal that operates a clutch
Clutch
A coupling that connects or disconnects driving and driven parts of a driving mechanism
Clutch
Take hold of; grab;
The salesclerk quickly seized the money on the counter
She clutched her purse
The mother seized her child by the arm
Birds of prey often seize small mammals
Clutch
Hold firmly, usually with one's hands;
She clutched my arm when she got scared
Clutch
Affect;
Fear seized the prisoners
The patient was seized with unberable pains
He was seized with a dreadful disease
Clutch
Refers specifically to the number of eggs laid by a bird or reptile at one time.
The turtle laid a clutch of fifty eggs.
Clutch
Often used to describe a small, exact number of items.
She found a clutch of old letters in the attic.
Clutch
In mechanics, relates to a device that engages and disengages power transmission.
The car's clutch needs repairing.
Clutch
Can imply a critical or crucial moment requiring effectiveness.
He came through in the clutch with a last-minute goal.
Clutch
Used in fashion to describe a small handbag.
She accessorized her evening gown with a sleek black clutch.
Common Curiosities
Do all bird species brood their young?
Most bird species brood their young, but there are exceptions like some megapodes that do not brood but rely on environmental factors like heat from volcanic sources to incubate their eggs.
What factors influence the size of a clutch?
The size of a clutch can be influenced by environmental conditions, species-specific traits, and the health of the laying female.
Is there a difference in the number of broods or clutches a species can have per year?
Yes, some species may have multiple broods or clutches in a year depending on factors such as climate and species-specific reproductive strategies.
How does clutch size affect survival rates in birds?
Generally, larger clutch sizes may lead to lower per-egg or per-chick survival rates due to resource limitations, though this can vary widely among species.
Can the terms brood and clutch be used interchangeably?
While they are related to reproduction, they cannot be used interchangeably as "brood" involves the care of offspring post-hatching and "clutch" specifically refers to eggs laid at one time.
Are there any species known for exceptionally large or small clutches?
Yes, for example, the octopus sometimes lays tens of thousands of eggs in one clutch, while some birds like albatrosses lay only one egg per clutch.
What is clutch predation?
Clutch predation refers to predators specifically targeting eggs in a clutch, which can significantly impact reproductive success in birds and reptiles.
How do researchers study clutches and broods in wild bird populations?
Researchers study clutches and broods by monitoring nests, marking eggs and offspring, and tracking development and survival rates to understand reproductive strategies and challenges.
How do human activities impact clutches and broods in wildlife?
Human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change can negatively impact the survival of clutches and broods through loss of habitat and food sources.
What role does parental experience play in the success of a brood or clutch?
Experienced parents often have higher success rates in raising a brood or protecting a clutch due to better nesting site selection, feeding strategies, and predator avoidance behaviors.
Can environmental changes affect the clutch size or brood success?
Yes, environmental changes like temperature fluctuations, food availability, and habitat destruction can affect clutch size and brood success.
How are brood and clutch sizes measured in scientific studies?
Scientists measure brood and clutch sizes by counting eggs, hatchlings, or fledglings and may track these metrics across different stages of development to assess reproductive success.
What evolutionary advantages might a smaller or larger brood provide?
A smaller brood might allow for more intensive parental care per offspring, potentially increasing survival rates, whereas a larger brood might increase the odds of at least some offspring surviving in high-mortality environments.
Is there a specific breeding season for clutches and broods, or does it vary?
The timing of breeding seasons varies widely among species and can be influenced by geographical location, climate, and availability of resources.
What adaptations do animals have to protect their clutch or brood?
Animals may use camouflage, nest in hard-to-reach places, or aggressively defend their nests to protect their clutch or brood.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
