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Every now and then you come across bird nests, eggs or egg shells while hiking or gardening. Which bird laid the eggs? We have compiled characteristics of bird eggs of native species.

In a nutshell

  • Bird nests with eggs rarely require human assistance
  • depending on the bird species, the birds leave the clutch for a short time
  • Egg-laying sometimes takes several days
  • Adjusted coloring of eggs to hatch locations

bird egg variety

Bird eggs can be small or large, light or dark, solid or mottled, rough or smooth, dull or shiny. We have compiled the eggs of native birds separated by color with the most important characteristics for you.

Notice: The Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits the taking away of bird eggs from nature.

White Eggs

Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Source: Didier Descouens, Dendrocopos major MHNT 232, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: forest areas, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: April to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 11 to 12 days
  • Place of storage: breeding cavities in rotten tree trunks
  • Clutch size: 4 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 20 x 29 millimeters

Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)

Source: Didier Descouens, Alcedo atthis MHNT ZOO 2010 11 160 Arcy-sur-Cure, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: rivers, lakes
  • Breeding season: March to September, two to four annual broods
  • Incubation period: 17 to 21 days
  • Place of deposit: on the steep banks of water in nest tubes
  • Clutch size: 6 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 22 x 16 millimeters

Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Picus viridis MWNH 2212, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: Forest edges, gardens
  • Breeding season: April to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 14 to 15 days
  • Storage location: tree cavities, nest boxes
  • Clutch size: 5 to 8 eggs
  • Egg size: 28 x 33 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white, smooth and shiny

Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Accipiter gentilis MWNH 0762, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: coniferous forest
  • Breeding season: March to July, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 35 to 40 days
  • Storage location: in treetops
  • Clutch size: 2 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 55 x 42 millimeters

Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)

  • Habitat: Coastal areas, Bodden waters
  • Breeding season: March to October, one or two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 25 to 29 days
  • Place of deposit: in the water, in the riparian vegetation
  • Clutch size: 2 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 53 x 35 millimeters

Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)

Source: Roger Culos, Aix galericulata MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.27.5, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: Bodies of water with dense riparian vegetation and trees
  • Breeding season: April to May, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 28 to 30 days
  • Storage location: tree cavities
  • Clutch size: 9 to 12 eggs
  • Egg size: 49 x 39 millimeters

Common Swift (Apus apus)

Source: Klaus Roggel, Berlin, ApusApusKlausRoggel06, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: cliffs, settlements
  • Breeding season: May to September, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 20 to 21 days
  • Storage location: in rock caves, on buildings
  • Clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs
  • Egg size: 25 x 16 millimeters

House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

Source: Didier Descouens, Delichon urbicum MHNT, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: Settlements
  • Breeding season: May to September, one to two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 17 to 20 days
  • Storage location: on the outside walls of buildings
  • Clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 19 x 13 millimeters

City Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Source: Eloquence, Babypigeon, edited by pl, CC0 1.0
  • Habitat: Settlements
  • Breeding season: March to August, two to four annual broods
  • Incubation period: 16 to 18 days
  • Storage location: in buildings
  • Clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs
  • Egg size: 26 x 30 millimeters
  • Feature: white, glossy

White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

  • Habitat: Fields and meadows, wetlands
  • Breeding season: March to September
  • Incubation period: 32 to 34 days
  • Storage location: on roofs, towers and trees
  • Clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 77 x 52 millimeters

White eggs with dots or spots

Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Source: Dellex, Blue tit egg, Cyanistes caeruleus, Parus caeruleus, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: forests, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: March to August, one to two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 13 to 15 days
  • Storage location: in tree cavities
  • Clutch size: 6 to 14 eggs
  • Egg size: 16 x 12 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with reddish-brown spots

Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

Source: Weddi, Eudenbach glider airfield June 2022 IMG 20220627 131020, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: meadows, fields, sand dunes
  • Breeding season: April to August, two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 11 to 14 days
  • Storage location: on the ground, in troughs
  • Clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 24 x 17 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with brown spots

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)

Source: Tragopogon, Kleiber, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: forests, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: March to June, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 15 to 18 days
  • Storage location: in tree cavities
  • Clutch size: 5 to 9 eggs
  • Egg size: 19 x 15 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with brown spots

Great Tit (Parus major)

  • Habitat: forests, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: March to August, one to two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 13 to 15 days
  • Storage location: in tree cavities, nest boxes
  • Clutch size: 6 to 12 eggs
  • Egg size: 18 x 13 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with reddish-brown spots

Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Source: Roger Culos, Buteo buteo rotschildi MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.89.4, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: fields, forests, farmland
  • Breeding season: March to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 33 to 35 days
  • Storage location: in trees
  • Clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs
  • Egg size: 60 x 45 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with brown spots

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Milvus milvus MWNH 0750, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: fields, meadows, forest edges
  • Breeding season: April to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 29 to 30 days
  • Storage location: in trees, on ledges
  • Clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs
  • Egg size: 57 x 45 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with brown spots

Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Aegithalos caudatus MWNH 2283, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: Forest edges, parks, gardens
  • Breeding season: March to June, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 13 to 14 days
  • Place of storage: in trees, hedges and bushes
  • Clutch size: 8 to 12 eggs
  • Egg size: 14 x 11 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with red dots

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

Source: Notafly, Troglodytes troglodytes eggs, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: Forest edges with lots of undergrowth
  • Breeding season: April to August, two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 15 to 16 days
  • Place of deposit: on the ground in dense forest vegetation
  • Clutch size: 5 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 17 x 12 millimeters
  • Characteristic: white with brown spots

Green bird eggs

Magpie (pica pica)

The coloring of the eggs can vary from bird to bird; Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Pica pica MWNH 2311, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: forests, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: March to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 17 to 18 days
  • Storage location: in hedges and deciduous trees Clutch size: 5 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 33 x 23 millimeters
  • Characteristic: green with dark brown spots

Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)

Source: Roberto Zanon, Phoenicurus phoenicurus eggs, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: gardens, parks, forests, settlements
  • Breeding season: April to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 12 to 14 days
  • Storage location: on buildings, in nest boxes
  • Clutch size: 5 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 19 x 14 millimeters
  • Characteristic: greenish blue

Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Ardea cinerea MWNS 1927, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: lakes, rivers, wetlands
  • Breeding season: February to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 25 to 28 days
  • Storage location: in treetops
  • Clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 60 x 43 millimeters
  • Feature: green-blue, matt surface

Mute swan (Cygnus olor)

The coloring of the eggs can vary from bird to bird; Source: Superbass, Hoeckerschwan Bluecherpark Cologne clutches, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: ponds, pools, rivers, lakes
  • Breeding season: April to October, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 33 to 38 days
  • Place of deposit: on the water in the riparian vegetation
  • Clutch size: 5 to 8 eggs
  • Egg size: 98 x 62 centimeters
  • Characteristic: greenish gray

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

Source: Pline, Oeufs goeland argenté, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: Coastal areas, dunes, fields, wetlands
  • Breeding season: April to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 27 to 30 days
  • Storage location: on the ground, on ledges, in buildings
  • Clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs
  • Egg size: 71 x 49 millimeters
  • Feature: olive green

Pintail (Anas acuta)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Anas acuta MWNH 0965, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: Coastal waters and lakes Breeding season: April to August, one brood per year
  • Incubation period: 22 to 25 days
  • Place of deposit: on the ground, in dense riparian vegetation
  • Clutch size: 7 to 10 eggs
  • Egg size: 54 x 37 millimeters
  • Characteristic: greenish yellow

Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Source: Mike R, Starling eggs, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: fields, gardens, forests
  • Breeding season: March to July, one to two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 12 to 13 days
  • Place of deposit: in tree cavities, in nest boxes
  • Clutch size: 4 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 30 x 21 millimeters
  • Characteristic: greenish blue

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

The coloring of the eggs can vary from bird to bird; Source: Biberbaer, derivative work Lämpel, Mallard nests in Ferch02 retouch, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: along flowing water
  • Breeding season: late February to September, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 28 to 29 days
  • Place of deposit: in a hollow in the ground, a little away from the shore
  • Clutch size: 10 to 12 eggs
  • Egg size: 57x 41 centimeters
  • Characteristic: greenish gray

blue eggs

Blackbird (Turdus merula)

  • Habitat: forests, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: February to August, two to four annual broods
  • Incubation period: 13 to 14 days
  • Storage location: near the ground in hedges and bushes
  • Clutch size: 4 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 29 x 21 millimeters
  • Characteristic: blue with brown pattern, slightly shiny

Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

The coloring of the eggs can vary from bird to bird; Source: Didier Descouens, Loxia curvirostra poliogyna MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.220 Tébessa, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: Coniferous and mixed forests
  • Breeding season: January to March, one to two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 14 to 16 days
  • Storage location: in conifers
  • Clutch size: 3 to 5 eggs
  • Egg size: 22 x 16 millimeters
  • Characteristic: bluish with brown spots

Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)

  • Habitat: Forests, parks, gardens
  • Breeding season: April to July, two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 13 to 14 days
  • Place of storage: in trees and shrubs
  • Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 18 x 13 millimeters
  • Characteristic: light blue with black dots

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)

Source: Snow tea, Greenfinch nest with eggs, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: forest, fields, gardens
  • Breeding season: March to August, one to two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 12 to 14 days
  • Storage location: in hedges, bushes, trees
  • Clutch size: 3 to 7 eggs
  • Egg size: 20 x 14 millimeters
  • Characteristic: light blue with brown spots

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

The coloring of the eggs can vary from bird to bird;
  • Habitat: gardens, parks, settlements
  • Breeding season: March to September, two to four annual broods
  • Incubation period: 12 to 14 days
  • Storage location: on buildings, in nest boxes, in trees
  • Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 22 x 16 millimeters
  • Characteristic: light blue with brown spots

Raven (Corvus corax)

  • Habitat: forest, mountains
  • Breeding season: February to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 20 to 21 days
  • Storage location: in trees, on rocky slopes
  • Clutch size: 3 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 49 x 33 millimeters
  • Characteristic: blue or green with dark spots

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Phalacrocorax carbo MWNH 0534, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: on large lakes and rivers
  • Breeding season: March to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 28 to 30 days
  • Storage location: on trees, on ledges
  • Clutch size: 3 to 4 eggs
  • Egg size: 59 to 41 millimeters
  • Feature: light blue

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)

Source: bukk, goldfinch clutch, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: forests, farmland
  • Breeding season: April to September, two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 12 to 14 days
  • Storage location: in branch forks
  • Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 17 x 13 millimeters
  • Characteristic: bluish with reddish-brown spots

Brown bird eggs

Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

  • Habitat: Wet meadows, pastures
  • Breeding season: March to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 26 to 27 days
  • Storage location: on the ground in meadows and fields
  • Clutch size: 3 to 4 eggs
  • Egg size: 46 x 32 millimeters
  • Characteristics: light brown with black spots

Crane (Grus Grus)

Source: Klaus Rassinger and Gerhard Cammerer, Museum Wiesbaden, Grus grus MWNH 2041, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: bogs, swamps, fields, bodies of water
  • Breeding season: March to September, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 28 to 30 days
  • Storage location: on the ground
  • Clutch size: 1 to 2 eggs
  • Egg size: 98 x 62 millimeters
  • Characteristic: olive brown or reddish brown with brown spots

Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)

  • Habitat: Coastal areas, meadows, pastures, wetlands
  • Breeding season: April to July, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 22 to 24 days
  • Storage location: on the ground near water
  • Clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs
  • Egg size: 52 x 36 millimeters
  • Characteristic: brownish or greenish with dark spots

Notice: Nest boxes are a great way to support native birds. Pay attention to the right height. In order to protect the bird eggs from nest robbers, we recommend placing nest boxes in places where there are no branches.

Red, gray and yellow eggs

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Source: Didier Descouens, Pinson des arbres - Fringilla coelebs moreletti - Flamengos Fayal Açores 222, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: forests, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: April to August, two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 12 to 13 days
  • Storage location: in branch forks
  • Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 19 x 15 millimeters
  • Characteristic: reddish with reddish-brown spots

Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)

Source: Didier Descouens, Coccothraustes coccothraustes MHNT.ZOO.2010.11 Gouvieux, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Habitat: forests, gardens
  • Breeding season: April to August, one annual brood
  • Incubation period: 11 to 12 days
  • Storage location: in bushes and hedges
  • Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 24 x 18 millimeters
  • Characteristic: gray with dark brown spots

Robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Source: Neptul, Bird's Nest Ground Breeders, edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Habitat: forest, gardens, settlements
  • Breeding season: April to August, two annual broods
  • Incubation period: 13 to 14 days
  • Place of storage: in the undergrowth, in the grass, in burrows
  • Clutch size: 4 to 6 eggs
  • Egg size: 20 x 15 millimeters
  • Characteristic: yellowish with brown dots

Notice: Note that to protect bird eggs, hedge trimming is prohibited from March 1st to September 30th. Only a grooming cut is allowed during this time.

Special case: Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)

The largest egg is always that of the cuckoo; Source: Von Grüner Flip - self-photographed, image-free, link
  • Habitat: light forest areas, near water
  • Breeding season: April to September
  • Incubation period: 12 to 13 days
  • Place of storage: in nests of other birds
  • Clutch size: 10 to 25 eggs
  • Egg size: 21 x 17 millimeters
  • Characteristic: color matched to the eggs of the host animals

frequently asked Questions

How do you know if an egg is fertilized?

Experts can tell whether an egg is fertilized or not by candling it with a strong light source. Unfertilized eggs are clear. Fertilized eggs, on the other hand, are opaque. This is caused by blood vessels that form shortly after fertilization to supply the embryo with nutrients.

Why are bird eggs often mottled or patterned?

Color shades, patterns or speckles serve to camouflage and protect against predators. As a result, the eggs of many bird species can hardly be distinguished from their surroundings.

Do bird eggs always have an oval shape?

Most eggs are oval in shape. This prevents it from rolling away quickly. Owls usually lay round eggs. They breed in a tree hole where there is no danger of rolling away.

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Category:

Animals in the garden