logo
banner

ALL ABOUT BLUEBIRD NESTS AND EGGS

by Anvika aryaDecember 29, 2022
blue-eggs

What to do with unhatched eggs after the others have hatched is a typical topic among blue bird eggs home owners.

Table Of Contents

BLUEBIRDS NEST WHERE?

Bluebirds are obligatory cavity nesters, meaning they only nest in cavities, chambers, or similar structures. Bird that nests in natural or constructed cavities.

A cavity is a compartment that protects a nest, eggs, and young.

Cavities may be natural, as those dug by woodpeckers or made by broken-off branches, or manufactured, like birdhouses.

TWO VARIETIES OF CAVITY-NESTERS:

  • Primary cavity nesters may make their own. Woodpeckers and Flickers are examples. Some birds, including Titmice and Chickadees, may build or extend wood cavities.
  • Secondary cavity nesters can't create theirs. They employ natural or man-made cavities. Most cavity-nesting birds use secondary cavities.

Bluebirds nest in woodpecker-dug cavities 77% of the time.

Bluebirds don't favor natural or artificial cavities. Some pairings shifted from a nest box to a natural cavity in a single nesting season, according to field research.

BLUEBIRDS NEST OUTSIDE CAVITIES RATHER SELDOM

A literature analysis shows that blue bird eggs may build cup-shaped nests on ground banks and in thick branch forks.

Allaire (1976) found a nest in surface-mined Kentucky. Sprunt (1946a) reported a bluebird nest at Clemson, South Carolina, and in Alabama's longleaf pine woodlands.

BLUEBIRDS NEST IN HOLES

  • Gutter bluebird nest. Deny Lammardo.
  • Bluebirds have nested in gutters that resemble cages. Recent reports haven't mentioned ground or tree branch nesting.
  • Eastern Bluebirds nest in birdhouses. Bluebirds have plenty of nest boxes, which is why they seldom nest outside cavities.
  • Today, there are more nesting locations, but all cavities are in demand.
  • Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, wrens, great crested flycatchers, tree swallows, European starlings, and House Sparrows compete with bluebirds for breeding locations.

BLUEBIRDS NEST WHEN?

Bluebirds that remain in their territory year-round, such as those in the mid-east and south, start nesting sooner than those travelling to the north and cold.

Year-round inhabitants begin nest building in February and March, when migrating Bluebirds arrive.

Bluebirds start nesting in March and April in Michigan and Minnesota.

NEST-BUILDING IS FEMALE-ONLY

During territory-building and mating, the male builds a nest. The male delivers nesting material to the cavity to attract the female. But that's all for his nest-building efforts.

blue bird eggs don't share nesting evenly for lifelong mates. Female makes nest in 5.5 days.

Cup-shaped nest. The cup is lined with fine fibers blended with bird feathers and mammalian fur, if available.

Some nests have several cavities. Some couples construct a nest or start one in each cavity, but they only utilize one to lay eggs and nurture young.

EGG-LAYING BEGINS WHEN?

After 6 to 7 days, the female blue bird eggs. The timing of Bluebird egg-laying reflects nest construction. In the south, egg-laying starts in February and March, while in the north, March and April.

Most Bluebirds incubate eggs in April.

BLUEBIRD FEMALES LAY THREE EGGS.

Bluebirds deposit 4 to 5 eggs, however they may lay up to 7 eggs. Daily, she lays one blue eggs. Two females may deposit eggs in the same nest. Both females incubate and feed chicks.

Breeding season duration

Bluebird breeding season averages 83 days, or almost three months.

WHEN DO EGGS BEGIN TO DEVELOP WITHIN A UTERUS?

Usually, the female bluebird will begin incubating the eggs on the day she lays the final egg of the clutch. Sometimes, a female may begin incubating the eggs the day before the final egg is deposited.

WARMER CLIMATES NEED A SHORTER INCUBATION PERIOD THAN COLDER ONES.

I'm curious about the bluebird's egg color. Normal eggs laid by bluebirds. An average Bluebird egg will be a pale blue in hue. On occasion, though, a female will solely lay white or pink eggs.

THOSE WHITE BLUEBIRD EGGS ARE REALLY RARE.

Within a given nest, the egg hue never changes. A clutch of eggs from a given female will be either completely blue, completely white, or completely pink.

TIME OF INCUBATION

The typical incubation time for a blue bird eggs is 13.5 days, although it may take anywhere from 11 to 19 days. The incubation period of the bluebird is somewhat shorter in the southern states because to the higher temperatures compared to the northern states.

BLUEBIRD MALES AND FEMALES INCUBATE EGGS?

Females solely incubate eggs. Males don't incubate eggs. Male defends territory and feeds female while she incubates eggs. Morning and daylong, the female feeds and poops. Both male and female feed around the nest and watch for predators.

BLUEBIRDS DISCARD EGGS WHEN...

Bluebirds forsake their eggs for good cause. A married Bluebird couple is more likely to leave their eggs if the male or female dies, according to field observations. Hunger and harsh weather also contribute.

Weather disasters and hunger are linked. Cold weather makes insects less mobile and harder for bluebirds to discover. Bluebirds must spend more time seeking for food, neglecting the eggs, or relocate to food-rich locations.

Predator harassment is another cause. Predators may try to get inside each box. Such harassment may hinder the female from developing eggs. Predators may take eggs and nestlings, causing nesting couples to abandon their nests.

After lengthy incubation, the parents may find the blue bird eggs aren't viable. They might discard the eggs and go to another nest location or construct a nest on top of them and breed.

WHEN ONE BIRD IS GONE AFFECTS NEST DESERTION.

Male and female Bluebirds have distinct functions throughout mating season, therefore losing one might have significant effects.

EXAMPLES:

  • If the female is lost throughout the nest-building, egg-laying, and incubation stages, the breeding effort fails.
  • The male dies during egg-laying or incubation, the female will likely leave the nest.
  • Female is gone while the brood is young, the nesting effort fails since the male doesn't brood the young, and they die of cold.
  • When the male dies, the female may raise the young.
  • If either the male or female dies while the chicks are still in the nest, the surviving parent may nurture them until fledging.
  • Any of these conditions may lead to nest desertion, however another bird will likely replace the lost mate. If the kids are old enough, the replacement may feed them. The new substitute will likely ignore eggs and nestlings.

MY BLUEBIRDS HAVE LEFT THE NEST.

Warm temperatures may cause lengthy female nest absences. The female remains outdoors and returns to nurture eggs. If the female hasn't been in the nest for two days, she may be dead.

A replacement female is probable. This might take weeks or hours if females are around. If it's early enough in the season, the new female and male will nest.

mornews logo
The Morning News is comprised of content that aim to alter how we look at things around us. We aim to provide insights that will keep you going every day. We work with labels to build a community fond of stimulating conversations, awakening topics, and shareable stories that motivates readers to pursue a healthy lifestyle.
Copyright © 2023 MorNews. All Rights Reserved.
DMCA.com Protection Status
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram