Bird eggs come in a variety of colors, including blue, gray, brown, and white. Most of us are probably familiar with the white or brown chicken eggs at the store, or the bright blue eggs of a robin. But eggs can also be speckled. The full reason for why some eggs have speckles and some don’t is unknown, although there are some theories. In this article we will learn about 20 birds with speckled eggs.
20 Birds with Speckled Eggs
So why do birds have speckled eggs? The simplest explanation would be that speckling helps the eggs blend into the nest better, providing camouflage. This may be the case for some species (especially ground nesting birds), but certainly not for all of them. Many mothers keep their eggs fairly well hidden with no need for camouflage, and in some species the speckled eggs actually stand out against the nest background rather than blend in.
Some research has been done on these protoporphyrin spots (the technical name for the speckles) in great tits. It seems that for some birds, getting enough calcium in their diet to develop thick egg shells is a problem. The protoporphyrin spots can help to strengthen weaker egg shells.
There is still a lot to be discovered about these spots and their uses among different bird species. But for now, let’s just take a look at 20 common species known to have speckled eggs.
1. Sandhill Crane
Scientific name: Antigone canadensis
The Sandhill Crane is an elegant and beautiful bird which lives in many regions of North America, as well as part of Mexico and the northern Caribbean islands. It spends the spring and summer in most of Canada as well as the United States’ northern prairies. Wintering populations live in Florida and Texas.
Sandhill crane eggs are light brownish-yellow with brown or gray speckles. They lay about 1-3 at a time, and they incubate for 29-32 days.
2. Vermilion Flycatcher
