Imprinting
Newly hatched birds of some species learn to recognise their mother and form an attachment to her. They will then follow her around and gain food and protection. This learned behaviourBehavior that is taught or acquired through experience. is called imprintingA rapid learning process by which a newborn or very young animal establishes a behaviour pattern of recognition and attraction towards other animals of its own kind. The tendency of young animals to follow the first moving thing they see..
Imprinting is partly innate because the young birds will only learn to recognise and follow objects that have certain features. For example, goslings imprint on the first object they see that moves, but mallard ducklings imprint on an object only if it moves and also quacks.
Imprinting is useful if the first object with the key features really is their mother. However, young birds can imprint on people, balls and even cardboard boxes if these happen to be the first things they see and they have the correct features.