Eggs come in an amazing variety of sizes, colors and even shapes. Egg colors could fill an artist’s palette, from robin’s egg blue to a buffy pink, and even mauve, purple and green.
When birds commonly nest in the open, their eggs may be blotched, spotted, speckled, marbled, streaked or scrawled to match their surroundings and protect them from predators. Killdeer often lay their eggs on pebbles, and their eggs are perfect rock imitations. With few exceptions, cavity dwellers lay pure white eggs. Camouflage is not important when the eggs are hidden in a hole, and the parents may better see white eggs in the darkness. Birds who never leave their nests, like the great blue heron, often have pure white eggs, too.
But why would an egg be blue? Some theorize that it may help a bird spot foreign eggs placed by other birds, such as cowbirds, in their nests.
Peregrine falcons nest on cliff edges, and their eggs are especially pointed on one end. That way, if an egg begins to roll, it’ll go around in circles rather than rolling straight over the edge. Bobwhite quail have so many eggs in a clutch, the eggs are pointed, enabling more to fit in the nest–kind of like a jigsaw puzzle.
Burning Bird Questions
- Why aren’t there any birds at my feeder? An absence of feeder birds may be due to an abundance of natural foods. Or sometimes seeds become spoiled or lack “hearts” due to poor development or weevils. Also, the feeder may be contaminated. Wash your feeder and try seed from a different source. Place the feeder so it is not vulnerable to predators.
- What do I do about the hawk that’s eating the birds at my feeder? Try to remember that hawks are natural predators. This is what they must do to survive. If you still feel guilty about tricking a bird into becoming prey, move the feeder closer to shrubs and trees that they can use as escape cover. You might also discontinue feeding for a while so the hawk will move on.
- When should I put up and take down my hummingbird feeder? Most hummingbirds arrive at the end of April. Although some arrive earlier in south Missouri, and most depart around early October. A hummingbird feeder can be placed anytime during that period. Most hummers occur in Missouri during the spring and fall migratory periods. September is typically the most satisfying month to feed hummers. There is no evidence that feeding delays their migration progress south in the fall.
- What do I do with the young bird I see out of its nest? Leave it alone and keep pets away. Most young birds leave the nest well before they are able to fly. Their parents, who may be rarely seen, will return as needed to feed them. Not only is picking up the bird a violation, it disrupts the bird’s opportunity to learn survival skills. On the rare occasions that a featherless young is found on the ground, an effort should be made to replace it in its nest. If a nest has fallen, fasten it in a tree near to where it was found. Birds don’t have highly developed senses of smell, so touching the bird is not a problem.
For more answers on birds, visit the MDC’s website.
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