What Bird Lays Blue Eggs? 20 Birds That Lay Blue Eggs

Ever wondered which birds lay blue eggs? Here’s your answer: from the American Robin to the Eastern Bluebird, and the intriguingly beautiful Starling. We’ve got a list of 20 species that brighten their nests with blue. Prepare to be amazed by the spectacular Azure Kingfisher and the vivid hues of the Wood Thrush. Stick with us for a deep dive into these fascinating facts.

You won’t want to miss this feather-filled adventure!

What bird lays blue eggs?

You probably already know that bluebirds lay blue eggs. Although those in North America like the Eastern, Mountain, and Western Bluebird lay pale blue to white eggs, you’re not likely to discover these eggs quickly.

They’re cavity nesters and rarely lay their eggs outside a cavity – except when desperate. Also, about 4-5% of bluebirds lay white eggs!

But not to worry, hundreds of other species of birds lay blue eggs you’re far more likely to happen upon.

Those who find blue eggs in unknown locations will most likely see an American Robin egg. House Finches also have eggs that are bluish-green and may use a nestbox.

Starlings also lay blue eggs, but you can easily see the difference because they are more significant than bluebird eggs.

What other birds lay blue eggs?

20 Birds That Lay Blue Eggs

Here is a list of some well-known birds that lay blue eggs. 

1. Red-winged, Rusty, and Tricolored Blackbird
2. Blue-footed Booby, Bluethroat, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue Grosbeak, Blue Mockingbird
3. Gray Catbird
4. American, Fish, Hawaiian, and Tamaulipas Crow
5. Snowy Egret
6. American, Lawrence’s, and Lesser Goldfinch
7. Cassin’s Finch, House Finch, Oriental Greenfinch
8. Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron
9. Common Myna
10. Aztec, Bicknell’s, Clay-colored, Dusky, Swainson’s, Varied, White-throated, and Wood Thrush
11. Bay-breasted, Olive, and Yellow Warbler
12. Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Bullfinch
13. Blue jays
14. Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds
15. Dunnock
16. Goldfinches
17. Starlings
18. House Finches
19. Red-winged Blackbirds
20. Snowy Egrets

Learn more about each one below…

1. Red-winged, Rusty, and Tricolored Blackbird

These three types of Blackbirds each have their unique charm.

However, what unites them is their preference for blue eggs.

Blue-tinted eggs are usually tucked away safely in nests built in marshes or wetlands.

2. Blue-footed Booby, Bluethroat, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Blue Grosbeak, Blue Mockingbird

Each of these blue-themed birds contribute to the chorus of avian species that lay blue eggs.

These range from the hilarious Blue-footed Booby, nesting along the Pacific Coast, to the Blue Mockingbird of Mexico.

3. Gray Catbird

With its sleek gray coat and distinctive call, the Gray Catbird is a character in any garden.

Their egg-laying habits align with our topic, laying beautiful turquoise-blue eggs.

4. American, Fish, Hawaiian, and Tamaulipas Crow

The crow species across America are another group that produce blue eggs.

From the American Crow, a familiar sight in the states, to the Fish Crow of the Southeast and the Hawaiian Crow, an endangered species in the Pacific.

5. Snowy Egret

Snowy Egrets are not only remarkable for their strikingly white feathers but also for their blue eggs.

These elegant birds grace the wetlands of North America with their presence and nests.

6. American, Lawrence’s, and Lesser Goldfinch

While Goldfinches are best known for their golden plumage, they are also part of the blue egg club.

Different Goldfinch species across North America continue this trend.

7. Cassin’s Finch, House Finch, Oriental

Finches are another diverse group with some members laying blue eggs.

The Cassin’s Finch and House Finch, residents of North America, and the Oriental Greenfinch from East Asia are all blue egg layers.

8. Great Blue Heron, Little Blue Heron

Great Blue Herons and Little Blue Herons, as their names suggest, have a theme of blue. Fittingly, these majestic waterbirds lay eggs that are light blue.

9. Common Myna

Common Mynas are renowned for their adaptability. From forests to cities, they’re comfortable anywhere, laying blue eggs in their versatile nests.

10. Aztec, Bicknell’s, Clay-colored, Dusky, Swainson’s, Varied, White-throated, and Wood Thrush

Thrushes are songbirds celebrated for their melodic tunes. Several species, spanning from Aztec Thrush to Wood Thrush, lay blue eggs, adding to their charm.

11. Bay-breasted, Olive, and Yellow Warbler

Warblers are tiny, vibrant birds that lay equally vibrant blue eggs. Among them, the Bay-breasted, Olive, and Yellow Warblers stand out.

12. Eurasian Jackdaw, Eurasian Bullfinch

Across the pond, we have the Eurasian Jackdaw and Eurasian Bullfinch. Both of these birds, widespread in Europe and Asia, lay blue eggs.

13. Blue Jays

One of the most iconic birds in North America, the Blue Jay, known for its bright blue feathers and distinctive crest, also lays blue eggs, blending perfectly with its overall aesthetic.

14. Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds

The Eastern, Western, and Mountain Bluebirds, true to their names, lay blue eggs. Their lovely blue plumage and soft melodies have made them favorites among bird watchers.

15. Dunnock

The Dunnock, a small bird from Europe and Asia, adds to our list with its pale blue eggs, usually found in dense hedgerows and shrubs.

16. Goldfinches

While gold might be in their name, Goldfinches also hold a fondness for blue when it comes to their eggs. Their nests, often built in trees or shrubs, cradle their precious blue offspring.

17. Starlings

Starlings are some of the most common birds around the globe, known for their flocks, or murmurations. They, too, lay blue eggs, contributing to their universal appeal.

18. House Finches

House Finches, native to Western North America, have expanded across the entire continent. True to our topic, they lay blue eggs.

19. Red-winged Blackbirds

Red-winged Blackbirds, despite their dark plumage, produce light blue eggs. These widespread birds are found across North and Central America.

20. Snowy Egrets

Last on our list, but certainly not least, are the Snowy Egrets. These striking birds lay light blue eggs, hidden in nests in marshy wetlands.

And that’s a wrap on our journey exploring birds that lay blue eggs! This fascinating trait connects species across habitats and continents, providing a unique insight into the wonderful diversity of our feathered friends.

Reasons Why These Birds Lay Blue Eggs

Now that you know what bird lays blue eggs, let’s look at why do these birds lay blue eggs.

Female birds have two’ ink cartridges’ in their reproductive system: biliverdin and protoporphyrin.

All birds possess these two molecules, but not all species use them.

The ones that do use it, however, produce beautifully colored eggshells.

Biliverdin is the molecule that produces the blue and green pigment in eggshells.

The higher the concentration of biliverdin, the bluer the egg.

Protoporphyrin is the pigment that makes eggs red or brown or creates visible spots and speckles on the eggshells.

These ‘inks’ are added to the freshly formed shell in the last few hours of production.

Interestingly enough, the color of the eggs will change through the laying cycle of birds that lay multiple eggs at a time. It is as if they’re running out of pigment, but in fact, it points to the mother bird running out of calcium and nutrients.

Since 10% of the calcium in eggshells comes from the female, she needs extra calcium and nutrients while laying eggs. The eggdoesn’tvary in shade color if she doesn’t get any.

So, now that you know how it works, let’s move on to why it let’scessary.

Camouflage

A lot of animals in the wild are colored to blend in with their surroundings. If adult animals need it to escape from predators, fragile eggs need it even more. There are a lot of hungry predators out there looking for a quick snack.

But, camouflage doesn’t really apply to blue eggs. It’s the eggs with neutral tones and markings that blend away into the nesting material.

If birds lay eggs out in a scraped nest or directly on the ground in open areas, camouflage is essential.

To add protection, these birds will often decorate their nests as a form of concealment.

Temperature control

Okay, this may make you go ‘huh?’ but bear with me. Eggs are delicate, and the radiation and heat from the sun can easily cause harm not only to the shell but also to the chick.

The darker the egg, the better protected it will be against UV radiation, but, on the flip side, the quicker it will heat up and possibly cause the death of an unhatched chick.

A lighter egg has less chance of overheating but is more exposed to UV radiation.

Because of the connection between eggshell color and UV radiation and heat buildup, birds need to strike a balance between the color of their eggshells and the environment.

For example, birds that lay eggs in an exposed area will likely have lighter-colored eggshells. Eggs laid in Conversely, eggs sheltered from the sun will most likely have darker hues.

As you can imagine, the process will take many generations to perfect.

To recap, a study done to determine the function of different hues of eggshells found that pigments serve to reduce them:

• Damaging ultraviolet radiation
• The infrared radiation that heats the inside of the eggs

So to keep it simple, blue and other pigmented eggs regulate the effects of sunlight on the embryo/chick.

Some Other Eggshell Color Clues

We now know that the color of eggs gives us a clue about the amount of sunlight that reaches the bird’s nest.

But the colour of a bird’s eggshells can also give us some other important information.

The health of the mother bird and chicks

The brighter the eggshell, the better the health and diet of the mother bird. This means the hatchlings will also be strong and healthy.

Nest care habits

Typically, heavily camouflaged eggs are left unattended for more extended as parent birds go forage. In contrast, the more plain and noticeable eggs will be carefully guarded and watched by parents and thus have less need for camouflage.

Mismatched siblings

If there is a dramatic difference between eggs in the same nest, it can indicate a brood parasite.

Birds like Brown-headed Cowbirds and common Cuckoos lay their eggs in nests of other birds to be raised as foster chicks.

So, if an egg is much larger or smaller than the rest or has a different color in the brood, it is most likely from a brood parasite.

What About Patterns, Spots, and Blotches on Blue Eggs?

Speckled eggs are just another form of camouflage. You usually won’t find patterns, spots, and speckles on cavity nesters like the Eastern Bluebird, but open nesters and ground nesters are a different story.

Ground nesters such as ducks and geese; shorebirds like Avocets, Plovers, and Sandpipers; game birds including Turkey, Pheasant, and Grouse; and other species like Bobolink, Wood, and Hermit Thrushes will lay speckled eggs.

To guarantee the survival of their eggs, they rely on well-hidden and camouflaged eggs to make a predator’s job more difficult.

Besides camouflage, a study at the University of Oxford found that blotches on eggs serve an additional function. That is to strengthen the eggshell.

According to Andrew Gosler, Oliver R Connor, and Richard Bonsor, the pigment-related molecule protoporphyrin mentioned above also strengthens the eggshell.

The pigmentation compensates for any calcium deficiency and helps harden, especially the inner parts of the egg.

We must mention that this study only presented preliminary findings but that no direct relationship between eggshell strength and protoporphyrin pigmentation has previously been noted. There are mountains of circumstantial evidence, however.

Lastly, the spots and speckles on eggs can be used for identification. Remember those clever birds too lazy to build a nest or raise their young? The ones that lay their eggs in other birds’ nests?

Well, if the patterns on eggs differ from species to species, it will be easier to spot such egg trickery!

Observing Blue Eggs In A Nest

Sometimes we as bird enthusiasts can get so excited when we stumble onto a bird’s nest. We want to investigate and identify what bird species we’re looking at, and that is perfectly fine, within limits.

Observing the nest and the comings and goings of the mother bird and her partner is more than satisfactory. But one thing you do not want to do is disturb.

We know it’s tempting to want to touch or handle the eggs, maybe even snap a quick picture.

But can you imagine what a panicked state the mother bird is in when you go poking around in the nest and touching her eggs?

You’re a mighty giant predator, and she doesn’t know if you plan on having her babies as scrambled eggs for breakfast or if you’re just inspecting the pattern on the egg.

Even though you’re a curious birdwatcher, some signs will hint at what type of bird’s nest and egg you’re looking at. There’s no need to touch the egg or disturb the nest.

Look at the size, shape, color, markings, and finish of the eggs to guide you in the direction of the species of bird in question.

Also, small birds lay small eggs, while large birds will lay more giant eggs. All these clues will help you narrow down the species of bird.

There’s an unwritten rule under birdwatchers to observe but not involve yourself. Stick to that rule, and the mamma bird and her eggs will be safe.

There are actually laws in North America that forbid the destruction of birds’ eggs and nests and the sale of any bird eggs.

However, if it is a fledgling, leave it where you found it. You can distinguish between a nestling and a fledgling by the fluffiness and the fact that a beginner can grip your finger.

The fledgling phase occurs before the first flight, so the bird’s parents are most likely nearby looking after it. Don’t interfere in this process.

Difference Between Regular-Colored Eggs And Blue Bird Eggs

While blue eggs may look quite different from regular white-colored eggs, there aren’t many significant differences. The color of the shell of eggs does not play a role in determining the characteristics.

As we have said before, the blue color of the eggshell is because of the pigments on the inside of the body.

Specifically, the pigment responsible for the blue color is called biliverdin.

When the eggs are smaller, the color becomes more vibrant, and the giant eggs have a more pale shade of blue. In reality, besides the color of the shell, there are no fundamental differences between these eggs.

What Does The Color of The Shell Say About The Bird?

The shade of blue that the shell is doesn’t say much about the embryo.

However, it does say a few things about the health of the parent birds. Eggs with, for example, eggplant egg shells are egg shells at the embryo’s parents are verembryo’sy birds. This may also mean that the bird from the egg will also have good health.

If the egg’s color seems similar to the nest, so the egg is camouflaged, it can mean that the parent bird was not often present to protect the eggs. Additionally, if eggs from the same hatch have different colors, then this can mean a brood parasite is present.

Time of Laying Eggs

Plenty of factors contribute to determining when a bird will lay its eggs. Typically, birds lay eggs when the weather is a bit warmer. Therefore, anywhere from the beginning of spring to the end of summer can be a possible time.

We would again like to emphasize there’s no guarantee when the bird will lay its eggs. Factors such as the bird species, weather, and elevation play essential roles in the timing. You could get a good idea of this timing for a species if you study a bird for a while.

Conclusion

There’s your answer to what bird lays blue eggs:

And you can see over 20 types of birds lay blue eggs.

Bird eggs are as distinct as the birds themselves, and blue eggs only form a small part of the colors you can expect to see.

Birds can lay eggs in different white, tan, turquoise, teal, brick-red, and even pink hues!

Even the textures and coatings differ. For example, you’ll find some soft eggs while others will be shiny, bumpy, and smooth.

Then, of course, you may even find some Jackson Pollock-worthy spots, specks, and scars on some eggs. Mother nature can be a real show-off, right?

Of course, these patterns aren’t just for camouflage; they also strengthen the eggshell and make it possible to identify any brood parasites.

Scientists are still searching for more precise answers. What may other reasons be behind the blue tones of birds’ eggs or the specks and blotches?

We may know much more about this subject in the next ten years.

But, the more we understand about birds, eggs, and how the environment and natural selections impact them, the better we can help conserve our feathery friends.

What type of birds lay blue eggs?

The most common birds that lay blue eggs include Eastern Bluebird, Mountain Bluebird, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Blue Jay, American Robin, Common Murre, Eurasian Jackdaw and the European Robin.

Here’s a list of some of the most common bird species that lay blue eggs:

• • Eastern Bluebird
  • Mountain Bluebird
  • Turquoise-browed Motmot
  • Blue Jay
  • American Robin
  • Common Murre
  • Eurasian Jackdaw
  • European Robin
  • Barn Swallow
  • Blue Grosbeak
  • Blackbird
  • Bluethroat
  • House Sparrow
  • Indigo Bunting
  • Northern Parula
  • Red-winged Blackbird
  • Ring-necked Pheasant
  • Rock Pigeon
  • Spotted Flycatcher
  • Starling
  • Tree Swallow
  • Wood Duck

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s look at some other questions that may have popped into your mind about birds and their eggs.