Be aware there is often considerable variation in a nest of a particular species, depending on the individual, circumstances, location and available materials, and sometimes nests are started by one species and taken over by another. For detailed descriptions of nest construction and egg identification, see Nest and Egg ID (also with links to photos of nests, eggs and young.) * = Occasionally found, but not definitive. More ID links below.
Also see Egg ID Matrix (color, spots, etc.) descriptions of nests and eggs | PHOTO ALBUM with pictures of cavity nesting birds, nests and eggs. TABLE showing relative sizes of eggs, and egg photos side by side. To see other cavity nester bios/photos:
| CLUE-> SPECIES |
Moss
|
Leaves
|
Grass
|
Pine
Needles |
Feathers
|
Rootlets
|
Bark
Twigs |
Fur
Hair Fibers |
Trash
|
Snake
skin |
Other
|
Cup
|
|
Fine in cup, occas seedheads
|
X
|
* Few
|
rarely
|
Deep cylinder
|
||||||||
| Bluebird, Mountain |
X, occas seedheads
|
X
|
Large
|
*shreds
|
*
|
*
|
Deep cylinder
|
|||||
| Bluebird, Western |
X, occas seedheads
|
X
|
Large
|
*
|
*
|
Deep cylinder
|
||||||
|
X
|
X cup
|
Deep fur plug
|
||||||||||
| Chickadee, Carolina |
X
|
X
|
*Strips
|
X cup
|
||||||||
|
X
|
Twigs
|
X
|
Fecal sac wreath later
|
|||||||||
|
x
|
X
|
X
|
X a few clumps
|
Seldom
|
Fine grass matted hair
|
|||||||
| Flycatcher, Great-crested |
x
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
Twigs
|
X
|
Common
|
Fine hair/
feathers/ |
||||
|
*
|
Coarse, often Seedheads
|
x
|
X
|
x
|
*
|
X
|
Deep or tunnel
|
|||||
| CLUE-> SPECIES |
Moss
|
Leaves
|
Grass
|
Pine
Needles |
Feathers
|
Rootlets
|
Bark
Twigs |
Fur
Hair Fibers |
Trash
|
Snake
skin |
Other
|
Cup
|
|
Dried
|
X
|
X
|
Strips or chips
|
X clump
|
Cotton
|
Matted hair
|
||||||
| Nuthatch, Pygmy |
X
|
X
|
*
|
Shreds
|
X clump
|
*
|
||||||
| Nuthatch, Red-Breast |
X
|
X
|
X
|
Shreds
|
||||||||
| Nuthatch, White-breasted |
x
|
x
|
x
|
Bark strips
|
X clump
|
*
|
Earth
|
Saucer
|
||||
|
X
|
Dry
|
X
|
Small strips
|
Fibers
|
Neat round
|
|||||||
|
Purple
Martin |
Green
|
X
|
X
|
x
|
||||||||
|
Green & Dried
|
Coarse
|
Lots
|
X
|
twigs
|
x
|
Shallow
|
||||||
|
X
|
X
|
Lots, downy
|
||||||||||
|
X
|
Dried crumpld
|
X all over
|
*
|
x
|
Deeo
|
|||||||
|
X
|
Dead
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
twigs
|
X
|
x
|
Tiny, deep
|
||||
|
X
|
X
|
cup
|
x
|
some twigs, bark
|
cup
|
x
|
domed tunnel
|
|||||
|
Cup only
|
Cup only
|
Many Twigs
|
Cup only
|
* String
|
deep, back
|
|||||||
|
Chipmunk
|
Shredded
|
X
|
Fluff
|
|||||||||
|
*
|
x
|
fine
|
x
|
shredded bark
|
x
|
x
|
Acorns
|
no cup
|
||||
|
Squirrel
|
x
|
Green or dried, lg
|
Acorns
|
|||||||||
|
X
|
x
|
X
|
x
|
Bark, small twigs
|
Fur
|
Insulation
|
Acorns
|
None
|
||||
| CLUE-> SPECIES |
Moss
|
Leaves
|
Grass
|
Pine
Needles |
Feathers
|
Rootlets
|
Bark
Twigs |
Fur
Hair Fibers |
Trash
|
Snake
skin |
Other
|
Cup
|
I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery
than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.
Harry Emerson Fosdick
