Eastern Bluebird Nest, Eggs and Young

Typical Bluebird Nest Description: Neat, cup shaped, woven nest typically 100% fine grass or pine needles. Cup may be in the back of the box. Occasionally bits of fur or a few feathers, or even some hair (e.g., from a horse). Fairly deep, often cylindrical nest cup - usually 3-4" deep, with the cup portion 2.5" in diameter and about 2.25" deep.

The nest on the left is in a Peterson box. The nest below is in a small NABS box, and contains a lot of White Pine (Pinus strobus) needles.

Notice the cup is deep, and more neatly woven than the rest of the nest.

Usually bluebird nests do not have seedheads (more typical of House Sparrow nests) but this is for a second brood and may have been built in a hurry.

See photos of some unusual bluebird nests made with cattails and maple seeds.

Bluebird Eggs are powder blue (no dark spots), sometimes white.

It is not common to have feathers in a bluebird nest, but this one had a few. This female went on to lay two more eggs.

Up to 4-5% of Bluebird eggs are white. More....

In a taller nest (e.g., in a box that has not been cleaned out) Keith Kridler found that bluebirds may be more likely to build the nest cup towards the back of the box, furthest from the entrance hole.

The young inside the eggs in the front and the lower right are both pipping. Photo by Keith Kridler. Star shaped dimples are visible as the occupant pushes through the shell.

The fourth egg on the far right will not hatch. The liquid line and air are visible on the large end of the egg. If a baby were formed inside, it would be filling up the whole egg by this point.

Newly hatched bluebirds look like hairy shrimp. Usually any eggs that are fertile will hatch within 24 hours of each other.

See day by day photos of nestling development.

After the nestlings are 12 days old (and bright blue feather sheaths show up on males) you should stop actively monitoring the nest, as disturbance could cause premature fledging.

After fledging, the nest cup is usually flattened, but clean (no fecal material.) Another bluebird nest in a NABS box is shown below, using both pine needles and grass.