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This article will discuss what birds lay blue eggs. One would imagine there would be several species. We will endeavour to find out the facts.
Here are my top ten birds who lay blue eggs.
1. Blackbird (Eurasian blackbird)
Male Blackbird
Female Blackbird
The blackbird as shown in the picture above is of a male blackbird and is one of Britain’s favourite birds. Males are easily identified as black with a yellow/orange beak and yellow eye ring. The female is more of a brown, with spots and or streaks on breast, with a brown beak. They are one of the first birds to sing in the dawn chorus with its beautiful song. This medium size bird is a ground feeding bird. Although like most birds, they will feed from a bird table. The female tends to build nests in trees or shrubs. They also have been known to reuse the previous year’s nest if still in good repair.
The breeding season for blackbirds usually starts March through to July. They can have up to three broods depending on the weather and the availability of food, although it has been reported that four broods have been observed. The eggs can vary from blue green to blue with red / brown speckles, they are smooth and glossy as seen in the photograph above. Clutches can be around 3-5 eggs and take 13-14 days to hatch. They only take around two weeks to fledge.
2. Song Thrush
The song thrush is a beautiful bird and as its name suggests it has a wonderful voice and song. It joins the blackbird to be one of the first to sing in the dawn chorus. Like the blackbird they are also a ground feeding bird.
The song thrush is around 23cm so it is smaller than both the blackbird and mistle thrush. Both males and females have similar colouring. As you can see from the picture above they have a spotted chest and underbelly, with a creamy – yellow base. The spots can sometimes look like lines. Their backs are brown.
They will nest in woodlands in thick shrubs and brambles and on farmland in thick hedgerows. Like the blackbird they will nest from March to late July, and will have up to three broods. Clutches of three to five eggs. As shown in the picture above these eggs are usually glossy, bright blue speckled with black spots and can take up to 15 days to hatch and two weeks to fledge.
3. Mistle Thrush
The Mistle thrush at around 28cms is larger than both the song thrush and the blackbird. They are again a ground feeding bird. They are a different colour than the song thrush. The mistle thrush is more of a grey-brown colour, a colder tone than the brown song thrush, also the underbelly and chest have more of a white base with brown spots which do not join, and tend to stand taller than the song thrush. As you can see from the pictures above there is little or no difference between the male and female. You will find the Mistle thrush in gardens, parks and woodland. They usually make their nests at the end of February, typically in woodland high up a tree. Clutches of 3-6 pale blue with brown/red freckled eggs, as seen in the picture above. These will normally hatch in around 14 days. The chicks will fledge roughly between 15 – 20 days.
4. Magpie
The magpie is not always a favourite due to their habit of raiding other birds nests and either stealing eggs or chicks.
The bird can be between 52-62cms, so it is a larger bird. As shown in the picture above, Its bold black and white feathers make it easily recognisable. The female is similar to the male just a little smaller. They will make large nests high up in trees or in thorny bushes and have clutches of up to 6 blue-green brown spotted eggs as seen in the picture above. Around 18 days they will hatch. The chicks will fledge day 25 or 30 but will still continue to be supported and fed by their parent birds for a further month or so.
5. Starling
Starlings are very adaptable birds and will live in all kinds of places such as tree cavities and holes but also in buildings. This bird nests in colonies. When visiting the garden they usually come in a mob, they are very noisy and appear to fight and argue over food. These birds feathers at first look, look black, however when the light shines on then you can see they are actually quite colourful, you can see this in the example picture above. The female is similar but less glossy looking. They are purple, green, iridescent with white spots. The bird measures around 22cms. In April it is the male who will build a nest to attract a female. The colony will lay eggs within days of each other. The clutch is around 4-6 pale blue smooth glossy eggs, as shown in the picture on the right above. These eggs hatch around 14 days later. Young will fledge at about two weeks old but the parents will continue to support and feed it until it is independent.
6. Linnet
Male Linnet
Female Linnet
The linnet is another ground feeding bird. They feed on insects and small seeds. They are a thin small finch around 13.5cms. You will find these birds in gardens, parks and farmland. The male as shown in the picture above in his summer plumage has a crimson chest and patch on his forehead, the rest of the head is grey. Chestnut brown wings and brown / pink flanks. The female is brown with no pink or crimson colouring as seen in picture above on right.. Also the head is more brown than grey. Their breeding season is around mid April to the beginning of August. They will nest in gorse bushes or thorn hedges. They will lay 4-6 pale blue eggs with brown and purple markings on them as shown in the picture on the right above. These will hatch approximately 10-14 days later. Both parents will feed the chicks. The young will fledge about 11-17 days later and will be supported by the parents for up to around two weeks.
7. Bullfinch
Male Bullfinch
Female Bullfinch
The bullfinch is a small finch approximately 14.5-16-5cms. They feed on seed, insects and buds. The male as you can see from the picture on the left above, is very colourful and is easy to spot in the garden and on feeders. The males chest and underbelly is a pinky colour,and white towards the back underside. The head is black. The wings are black and grey. The female pictured above on the right, does not have the pinky breast, it is more of a buff / creamy colour, black head, black at ends of wings with some white and grey on the back. They will nest in woodland, bushes and shrubs. Nesting takes place from May – July, with a clutch of around 4-5 pale blue with red/brown speckled eggs. These will hatch about day 14 and the young will fledge within 16 days later. Bullfinches have been known to have a second brood.
8. Siskin
Male Siskin
Female Siskin
The Siskin is a small, around 11 – 12 cms in length. They are a seed eating finch, although they also will take insects. These birds are found in mixed woodland across the UK. High numbers in Wales and Scotland. The picture above shows how the male is a stunning yellow colour. As is the norm with most birds the female is less bright, and have brown streaks. Nesting high up in trees, mid March to July, clutches of around 4 -5 eggs will hatch after two weeks. The young will fledge 13 -15 days later.
9. Dunnock
The Dunnock is a bird which is often mistaken for a sparrow. As you can see from the picture above on the left, it is not a colourful bird, but grey and brown. The female is smaller and duller with a paler grey colour. The size is around 14cms, and is a ground feeding bird. They will feed on invertebrates,insects, worms and seeds. Breeding takes place April-July and they will make their nest in hedges and shrubs and sometimes low down in trees. There will be clutches of around 3-5 small blue eggs as shown in the picture to the right above. These will hatch around 12-13 days later and young will fledge 14 days later. The Dunnock can have a number of broods during one season.
10. Carrion crow
The carrion crow is a large bird 45-47cms. Totally black in colour as displayed in the picture on the left above. The females are exactly the same. They can be found in multiple habitats, from woodland to urban and anything in between. They feed on carrion,eggs, insects, fruit, seeds and anything else they can get. Breeding is March – June and there will be 3-6 blue – green eggs with brown/grey speckling in a clutch which will hatch around 17-20 days later. Chicks will fledge around 28-30 days later. Carrion crows generally have one brood per breeding season.
In summary
This article has shown 10 varieties of birds which all lay blue eggs. We have shown what both the bird and eggs look like, when their breeding seasons are and where they nest. Also the number of eggs in a clutch, incubation periods and fledging information.