Avian kidneys have loopless and looped nephrons; a countercurrent multiplier mechanism operates in the latter by NaCl recycling. We identified an aquaporin-2 (AQP2) homologue in apical/subapical regions of cortical and medullary collecting duct (CD) cells in kidneys of Japanese quail (q), Coturnix japonica. We investigated whether under-nutrition during the embryonic/maturation period retards kidney and AQP2 development in quail and programs impaired volume regulation in adults. Protocols included: 1) Time course and 2) effects of 5-10% egg white withdrawal (EwW) or 48 h post-hatch food deprivation (FD) on nephron growth and qAQP2 mRNA expression, and 3) effects of EwW and FD on qAQP2 mRNA responses to 72 h water deprivation in adults. In metanephric kidneys, qAQP2 mRNA is expressed in medullary CDs at embryonic day 10; distribution and intensity increase during maturation. The number and size of glomeruli continue to increase after birth, while nephrogenic zones decrease. In EwW embryos, qAQP2 mRNA expression is initially delayed, then restored; birth weight and hatching rate are lower than in controls (CT). Adults from EwW embryos and FD chicks have fewer (P < 0.01) glomeruli. Water deprivation reduces body weight more in EwW birds than in CT. The results suggest that qAQP2 evolved in metanephric kidneys and that under-nutrition may retard nephrogenesis, leading to impaired adult water homeostasis.