The reproductive process in animals is essential for the survival of the species and, within the various stages that are part of it, the construction of nests is essential for the birth of offspring. In this sense, birds, or birds, are experts in the design of these beds for laying and incubating eggs, although they can also be used to rest or take shelter. Commonly, we tend to associate that bird nests are always built from certain materials, but for some the animal uses a cavity for the aforementioned purpose. For the elaboration of these places, sometimes both parents participate, while in other cases only the female or the male does it, it all depends on the species.
In this article on our site we want to present you with information about the types of bird nests, so we invite you to continue reading to that you know them all and learn to identify them to avoid damaging them.
Scrabble type nests
This type of nest consists of a shallow sinking into the ground or on vegetation. It may have materials such as branches, small rocks and feathers that help camouflage the nest, and in some cases it provides some protection against possible flooding or insulation from the cold.
Birds that build scratched nests take care that the edges are in such a way that if the eggs roll, they do not come out of it. Some examples of birds that make these nests are found in the following species:
- Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
- Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
- Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
- Wood Wagtail (Tringa glareola)
In the image we can see an ostrich nest.
Mound-type nests
This corresponds to a curious bird's nest, since the eggs are placed inside a set of decomposing plant materials, which, being in this process, give off heat that incubates the eggs, so it is the nest itself that provides the ideal conditions for the development of the embryos.
The male is the one in charge of removing the plant remains in order to control the temperature of the bed. This form of incubation is very rare in birds, since the temperature, if not well controlled, as well as the circulation of oxygen, can cause the mortality of the embryos. A study [1] has confirmed that at higher temperatures (mean 33.7 °C) of the mound-type nest, females are produced, but if they are more low (average 32.9° C), male chicks hatch.
Some birds that build mound-type nests are:
- Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata)
- Maleo (Macrocephalon maleo)
- Australian turkey (Lathami reading)
- Red-billed Turkey (Talegalla cuvieri)
Mud mound nest
Some birds such as the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) also build nests like the one mentioned, but, as they live near bodies of water, they make them from mud and stones, with an inverted cone shape, where they place their single egg at the base, which will be incubated by both parents. If you want to know more curiosities about these animals, don't miss this other article: "Why are flamingos pink?".
In the image we see a mallwwfowl nest and a flamingo nest to observe the similarities and differences between them.
Burrow-type nests
Other of the most curious and common types of bird nests is the burrow type. The most common is that they use one already built and abandoned by other animals, however, in some cases it is the birds themselves who build it with their beaks and legs.
Burrow-type nests consist of tunnels that vary in depth depending on the species, and may be on cliffs of sandy material or directly on the ground, generally with certain slopes. We have certain examples of birds that build burrow-type nests in these species:
- Sapper Martin (Riparia riparia)
- Crab Plover (Dromas ardeola)
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
- Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
- Burning Owl (Athene cunicularia)
In the image we can see the burrow-like bird's nest of a kingfisher.
Cavity Nests
Another of the nests of birds or birds are those made in cavities in the trunks of trees or the stem of certain large plants that strong enough to provide protection for the nest. Some bird species open their own cavities (primary nesters or carvers) using their bills. Thus, a clear example of bird nests in trees can be found in the woodpecker, a bird that also creates it using its beak.
Other birds take advantage of the holes abandoned by certain animals to use them as their own nest (nesters or secondary carvers). Usually, this form of nesting consists of an opening that will depend on the size of the bird, inside which a chamber is located that may have remains of plant material or feathers at the base, on which the eggs will be placed. Some birds of this type even use insect nests to lay their eggs.
Examples of birds that make cavity nests with:
- Blue-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva)
- Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus)
- Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
- Red-haired Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
- Martial Woodpecker (Campephilus melanoleucos)
In the image we can see the nest of a martial woodpecker.
Cup or cup nests
The cup nests, also called cups, are the nests of birds or birds that we usually observe. They are made by various kinds of birds, for which they use different materials such as twigs, remains of cobwebs, lichens, mosses, mud and even their own saliva, which they use to mix and fix. They are rather elaborate structures, that we can even consider authentic works of art and classify them as beautiful bird's nests. Its main characteristics are its rounded shape, resistance and at the same time flexibility, so that the nest itself molds itself to the body of the bird when it is incubating.
These nests are located on trees and even some structures or urban buildings, although they can also be found close to the ground, everything will depend on the species. Among the birds that make cup-type nests we can mention:
- Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
- Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
- Blue-eyed Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)
- Emerald Hummingbird (Chaetocercus berlepschi)
- House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
In the image we can see the curious nest of the emerald hummingbird. If you want to learn more about these birds, don't miss this other article: "Types of hummingbirds".
Platform Nests
Platform nests are characterized in that they are generally larger than the previous types These are also made by birds, who mainly use branches for its construction. This class of nests can be on trees, on the ground and even floating on the water, as is the case with seabirds. Emblematic examples of birds with platform nests are:
- Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
- Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
- Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
Hanging Nests
Finally, we can mention the hanging bird nests, which, as their name implies, are suspended. The birds that form these nests weave or make them from vegetable fibers, characterized by being flexible. They are also very elaborate nests, considered to be part of the rarest bird nests in the world and, in turn, more beautiful precisely because of how curious they are.
Among the species of birds that we can mention for this type of bird nests we have:
- Common Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)
- Berry Weaver (Ploceus philippinus)
- Eurasian penduline tit or Eurasian fly (Remiz pendulinus)
- Chestnut-headed oriole (Psarocolius wagleri)
In the image we can see the nest of the berry weaver bird.
Now that you know the names of bird nests, the different types that exist and how to identify them, remember that it is very important not to try to find bird nests, since they could be frightened, feel invaded and, in the worst case, abandon the eggs. It is essential to let them nest in peace.
