Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:55 pm
Birds’ nests can be found in the garden time and again. Which birds they are, can be easily determined on the basis of various characteristics. This is how you can recognize blackbird eggs in no time at all.
To the point
- Blackbird eggs are green with very different markings and characteristics
- the nests are typically found in hedges, shrubs or other protective woods
- usually there are 4 to 5 eggs in the clutch, rarely also 3 or 6 eggs
Identify blackbird eggs
To identify blackbird eggs with certainty, you should not only rely on the eggs themselves. Because some other aspects around the clutch already offer sure clues whether you are really dealing with Turdus Merula.
The breeding season
Blackbirds breed twice, under favorable conditions even three times per year. The individual broods all fall in the period between March and July. If you find a clutch outside of these times, it is most likely not the blackbird.
Contents
The blackbird nest
Look closely at the nest you find, taking into account not only the nest itself but also its location and surroundings. Because blackbirds prefer very typical locations for their clutches:
in the shelter of trees or dense shrubs and hedges
partly close to the ground, but in urban areas preferably from about one meter above the ground.
The blackbird nest itself has the following characteristics:
- Diameter on average around 16 centimeters
- rather smaller in branch forks and niches
- free on tree stumps and other flat bases rather larger
- round, partly oval shape
- diameter of the inner hollow around 10 centimeters
Note: Blackbirds prefer open areas interrupted by shrubs and other woody plants for foraging. This characteristic, however, is difficult to bring up in the environment of one’s own garden, since the vast majority of gardens with lawns and flower beds fulfill this requirement anyway.
The eggs
Now you finally come to the actual eggs. The amse eggs are easily recognized by the following characteristics:
- Shape mostly oval, partly short oval (almost round)
- color of fresh eggs basically green, exact coloration and pattern, however, strongly varying in form of spots or dots
- surface moderately shiny (“satin”)
- average size length x width 29.5 x 21.5 millimeters
- average weight just over 7 grams
Frequently asked questions
How many eggs are usually in a blackbird’s nest?
Typically, blackbird clutches contain 4 to 5 eggs. Rarely, 3 or 6 eggs are laid, although observations show that the female blackbird does not begin incubating until the third egg in the clutch.
How long do blackbirds breed?
The average breeding period is 14 days. Only the female broods.
What are typical blackbird nests made of?
A blackbird’s nest cannot be identified by the material used. This is because the birds use the materials found on site. Like countless other bird species, they mainly use twigs, moss, blades of grass, but also countless other materials.