Egg and Nest Extremes

December 09, 2008

Birds are avian dinosaurs and, just like their prehistoric relatives, they're full of eccentricities. Given today's Discovery News story about eggs,  we could say they have eggcentricities. (Drum rim shot. Thanks, I'll be here all night.)

First, let's start with their nests.

My vote for the sloppiest nest goes to the starling. The male half of a couple shoves grass, twigs and other plant materials into a tree cavity. His female partner then often looks it over, only to dump everything he did before she builds her own nest. It's like redecorating with The Honeymooners.

"Stop criticizing my nest!"
Starling photo taken by Katmystiry.


A possible candidate for the sturdiest nest could be the Baltimore oriole. They weave collected hair, yarn, string, plant materials and other functional debris into a sturdy pouch that they hang from a tree. Romantics will appreciate that the male usually sings his heart out, entertaining the female, while she performs much of the nest construction work.

Baltimore oriole.
Credit: MrMac04

Magpies are crafty and construct what gets my vote for the best security without an alarm system nest. Like crazy potters, these birds make a bowl out of mud, and then shove sticks into it, facing in all directions. Most animals probably look at it and wonder, "What the heck is that?" The entrance is sneakily hidden to the side. This nest also goes high in trees, adding an additional security feature.

The best real estate squatter could be the mourning dove. Males bring sticks to females, who carelessly dump them on nest homes formerly occupied by other birds. This nest often falls apart in storms, but mourning doves are survivors. They simply move on to another pad.

Now for some bird egg trivia:

World's largest egg- Ostriches lay eggs that are 8 1/2 inches long and weigh close to 4 pounds a piece, making them the world's largest bird eggs. (I believe extinct elephant birds laid even bigger eggs.)

World's smallest egg- According to anecdotal reports, a canary laid an egg on October 5, 1998, that measured .275 inches in length, was .2 inches in diameter and weighed just .0009 ounces. Hummingbirds also lay super tiny eggs.

Least productive egg-laying birds- Many seabirds, such as albatrosses and storm petrels, pump out just an egg a year. Certain swifts and warblers do the same.

Most productive egg layers- Ostriches and rheas lay huge clutches. Walter Jetz of UC San Diego, who led the recent egg study, tells me rheas lay up to 30 eggs at a time. I've seen anecdotal reports of clutches with over 70 eggs, however. My guess is that 20-30 is the rhea average, but impressive nonetheless.

Best Christmas layers- There could be a lot of partridges in pear trees, since these birds lay around 15-16 eggs at a time.

No video today, but please close your eyes, relax and daydream about birds—their "silly" ways and freedom— while listening to this Joni Mitchell song.

Comments

[jasen]

nice pictures nice site!!!!nice article thumbs up

[Jennifer Viegas]

Thanks, Jasen. You're thoughtful to take the time to write.-Jen