Home | On the Wing News  | Directory of Resources | Introduction | Observations
Examination | Problems | Recognizing | Help | References

Recognizing Nests and Eggs

Introduced or Pest Species

English Sparrow: Cavity nester, will use almost any cavity including bird boxes. Messy nests of grasses, weeds, and trash, lined with feathers, hair, and string. 3-7 eggs; white to greenish white, dotted and spotted with greys and browns; av. 23 mm. in length.

European Starling: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes if entrance is large enough. Cavity filled with mass of material; grasses, weed stems, twigs, corn husks, etc. Nest slovenly built and carelessly kept; cup lined with fine grass and feathers. 4-5 eggs; pale bluish or greenish white, unmarked; av. 30 mm. in length.

Native Species

Eastern Bluebird: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Nest is loosely built cup of fine grasses and weedstalks. 4-5 eggs; unmarked, glossy pale blue, sometimes white; av. 21 mm. in length.

Northern Bobwhite: Ground nester, in tall grasslands, brushy fields, open woodlands. Nest is a shallow depression lined with grass, concealed by a woven arch of vegetation. 12-16 eggs; unmarked white to cream; av. 30 mm. in length.

Chickadee: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Lines cavities with wool, hair, fur (rabbit), moss, feathers, insect cocoons, and cottony fibers. 6-8 eggs; white, evenly spotted with reddish brown dots; av. 16 mm in length.

Mourning Dove: Nests in trees or shrubs. Nest is a platform of sticks sparsely lined with grass and rootlets; eggs can often be seen through nest from the ground. 2 eggs; white, unmarked with slight gloss; av. 28 mm. in length.

Wood Duck: Cavity nester, will readily use nest boxes. Nest cavity is lined with wood chips and down. 6-15 eggs; solid creamy white with no markings; av. 62 mm. in length.

Common Flicker: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Uses sawdust if provided in nest box. 6-8 eggs; pure white, brilliant gloss; av. 28 mm.

Great-Crested Flycatcher: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Nests are bulky masses of twigs, leaves, hair, feathers, bark fibers, rope, sometimes cast off snakeskins, and pieces of cellophane. 5-8 eggs; yellowish or pinkish white streaked with dark brown; av. 23 mm. in length.

Canada Goose: Ground nester, usually near water. Nests are of dry grass, forbs, moss, sticks, and aquatic vegetation. Down added when incubation begins. 4-7 eggs; white/nest stained; 74-90 mm. in length.

Red-Tailed Hawk: Nest in deciduous tree. Bulky nest of sticks and twigs, lined with bark strips, evergreen sprigs, and green leaves. 2-3 eggs; white/bluish white, occasionally spotted with brown; av. 60 mm. in length.

American Kestrel: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Little, if any nesting material is used. 4-5 eggs; white/pinkish-white, marked with browns, occasionally they are lavender or unmarked; av. 35 mm in length.

Killdeer: Ground nester, in open with gravel, stones, and pebbles; unlined or lined with local materials. 4 eggs; buff, marked with blackish/brown; 37 mm. in length.

Mallard. Ground nester, usually near water. Nest of cattails, reeds, and grass. 7-10 eggs greenish buff, grayish buff, or whitish; 58 mm. in length.

Purple Martin: Cavity nester, will use apartment type birdhouses. Loosely made nest of grasses, twigs, bark, paper, string; egg cup lined with fine grasses and decorated with fresh leaves, 4-5 eggs; pure white, slightly glossy; av. 24 mm. in length.

White-Breasted Nuthatch: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Cavity lined with bark shreds, twigs, grass rootlets, fur, and hair. 5-10 eggs; white heavily marked with light brown and lavender spots; av. 19 mm. in length.

Osprey: Nests in deciduous or coniferous trees or on erected platforms. Nest is built of sticks, sod, cow dung, seaweed, etc., and is reused each year with constant additions of material. 2-4 eggs; white or buff, marked with olive brown; av. 61 mm in length.

Eastern Screech Owl: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Nest made from remnant lining material, feathers, and fur debris from food. 2-7 eggs; solid white, no markings; av. 34 mm in length.

Black Skimmer: Ground nester, on coastal beach, shell bank, gravelled parking lot. Nest is an unlined scrape among shells. 3-5 eggs; buff with brown blotches; av. 34 mm in length.

Barn Swallow: Nests on buildings or bridges, may use a nesting shelf. Nest is placed on ledge or rafter, made of mud and grass lined with feathers. 4-6 eggs; white with reddish brown spots; av. 19 mm. in length.

Tree Swallow: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Cup-shaped nest is built of grass and is often lined with feathers. 4-6 eggs; white, unmarked; av. 19 mm in length.

Tufted Titmouse: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Bottom of cavity lined with bark strips, leaves, moss, grass; cup padded with hair, fur, and string. 5-6 eggs; white or creamy, speckled with small brown dots; av. 18 mm. in length.

Downy Woodpecker: Cavity nester but prefers to excavate its own hole in trees. Eggs laid on bottom of cavity, no nesting material used. 4-5 eggs; pure white, little or no gloss; av. 19 mm. in length. 

House Wren: Cavity nester, will use nest boxes. Nest is made with a base of twigs and lined with grasses, plant fiber, hair, and feathers. 6-7 eggs; white deeply speckled with reddish or cinnamon-brown dots; av. 16 mm. in length.

Back to top