British Bird Eggs Identification Chart

According to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, a bird’s egg collection is strictly prohibited. The egg-collecting practice, which used to fascinate us alot in our childhoods, is illegal now. However, a few bird species fall under the license category.

The eggs of the birds in the license category are allowed to be collected. Hence, it is crucial to differentiate the eggs of different species to avoid any illegal practice. For a British bird egg identification it is not necessary to break the egg to know its species. 

There are some identification factors through which you can differentiate the eggs of different bird species. All you need is a handy guide to identify different species of birds. In this blog we will explore the British bird eggs identification chart.

British Bird Eggs Identification Chart

Bird Species	Scientific Name	Egg Description	Egg Size (cm)	Egg Weight (g)
Robin	Erithacus rubecula	Small, smooth, and glossy blue-green eggs with light brown speckles.	2.0 x 1.5	6.5
Blackbird	Turdus merula	Smooth, glossy, pale blue or greenish-blue eggs with occasional reddish spots.	2.6 x 1.9	4.5
Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus	Small, smooth, and glossy white eggs with fine red-brown speckles.	1.6 x 1.2	1.6
Great Tit	Parus major	Smooth, glossy white eggs with fine red-brown speckles, slightly larger than Blue Tit eggs.	2.0 x 1.5	2.8
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	Smooth, glossy pale blue eggs with purple or red-brown spots concentrated at the larger end.	2.0 x 1.5	3.6
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	Smooth, glossy pale blue or greenish-blue eggs with irregular black or dark brown spots.	3.2 x 2.3	8.9
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	Small, smooth, and glossy white eggs with pale grey or brown spots.	1.9 x 1.4	2.6
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	Small, smooth, and glossy white eggs with reddish-brown speckles concentrated at the larger end.	1.6 x 1.1	1.6
Dunnock	Prunella modularis	Smooth, glossy pale blue or greenish-blue eggs with sparse reddish-brown speckles.	1.9 x 1.4	3
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	Smooth, glossy pale blue eggs with fine dark brown spots all over.	1.6 x 1.1	1.8

How To Identify An Egg

There are some factors that need to be considered for the identification of an egg. For British bird eggs identification, you must look at their size, colour, and shape. These three are the core factors for differentiation. There might be the same coloured eggs of two different species.

In such cases, it is essential to consider the habitat as well. For the correct identification, look for the nest where the eggs were found. Usually, the eggs of different species of British birds are white because of the calcium carbonate in the eggshell.

Some of the British bird species, like Passerines, lay coloured eggs. Certain pigments in the eggshells are the reason behind coloured eggs or eggs with specific patterns or spots. A common observation is that the birds nesting on the ground lay brown or speckled eggs to help with camouflage.

On the other hand, the birds nesting in the trees produce green or blue eggs. You will also find a rare combination of blue-green eggs with reddish-brown spots produced by Blackbird. The pale blue eggs, with fine purple or brown spots, are specific for a bird species known as Linnet.

British Wild Bird Eggs Identification

There are almost 634 species of British wild birds on record today. According to the British Trust of Ornithology, Wren is the most common bird in the UK. Moreover, it is estimated that there are almost 85 million breeding pairs of birds in the UK. 

Each one of these species produces distinctive eggs with unique variations in their sizes and colours. This makes the British wild bird egg identification quite trickier. The majority of the British birds are found nesting in the trees. Some of them are rarely found making their nests in the ground.

The habitat acts as a distinctive factor in the easy differentiation of different species of the British bird. Observe clearly and list the eggs’ colour, shape, size, and habitat.

Based on these distinguishing factors you can easily find out which species of eggs you are investigating. You can refer to any ready to use checklist to help you identify British bird eggs. 

Bird Species	Scientific Name	Egg Description	Egg Size (cm)	Egg Weight (g)
Robin	Erithacus rubecula	Small, smooth, and glossy blue-green eggs with light brown speckles.	2.0 x 1.5	6.5
Blackbird	Turdus merula	Smooth, glossy, pale blue or greenish-blue eggs with occasional reddish spots.	2.6 x 1.9	4.5
Blue Tit	Cyanistes caeruleus	Small, smooth, and glossy white eggs with fine red-brown speckles.	1.6 x 1.2	1.6
Chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	Smooth, glossy pale blue eggs with purple or red-brown spots concentrated at the larger end.	2.0 x 1.5	3.6
Song Thrush	Turdus philomelos	Smooth, glossy pale blue or greenish-blue eggs with irregular black or dark brown spots.	3.2 x 2.3	8.9
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	Small, smooth, and glossy white eggs with reddish-brown speckles concentrated at the larger end.	1.6 x 1.1	1.6
Dunnock	Prunella modularis	Smooth, glossy pale blue or greenish-blue eggs with sparse reddish-brown speckles.	1.9 x 1.4	3
Goldfinch	Carduelis carduelis	Smooth, glossy pale blue eggs with fine dark brown spots all over.	1.6 x 1.1	1.8

What To Do If You Find A Bird Egg UK?

If you find any bird’s egg lying on the ground, look for its nest around. If you find a nest somewhere close to the egg, match the egg with the others in the nest. If they are the same, place the egg back in the nest and leave.

Sometimes, you might not find any nests in the surrounding trees. This doesn’t mean that the egg is abandoned. Leave the egg in the same place and watch from a distance. You might see the adult coming back to the egg and sitting there.

This is because some birds make their nests on the ground. The eggs lying on the ground are often assumed to be abandoned and misused. Be careful and avoid such mistakes. If you find any egg alone for quite a long, then the best approach is to hand it over to a wildlife rehabilitator.

Will A Mother Bird Come Back If You Touch Her Eggs?

It is just a myth that a mother bird will reject its babies if they get touched by humans. The birds usually have a poor sense of smell. They can’t sense the human touch on their eggs. They will recognize their offspring through their appearance and sound.

The birds will not abandon their nests either. If their nests get destroyed or damaged due to human invasion, they will build another nest and move there with their eggs or the hatched offspring. The human touch will not affect them much as they can’t sense it.

Sometimes, you will see a baby bird on the ground, and you might assume they have fallen off the nest and need assistance. Do not touch and leave them there because they might be the fledglings and have intentionally left the nest as part of their growth and development. Let them embrace their growth.

Conclusion

The British bird eggs identification chart is a great resource that simplifies the differentiation process. It is crucial to differentiate between different bird species. Correct differentiation will save you from collecting any prohibited bird’s egg.

The factors you need to observe for identification include the egg’s size, shape and colour. If you are still unable to figure out which species of egg you have, then consider another factor, the habitat. The place of the egg will give you a clue to which species it belongs to.