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Nesting Information

Incubation and fledging time for selected species.
* Species profile includes image of nest and eggs.

Most birds don't begin incubating their eggs until all have been laid.

Species

Incubation Period

Time to Fledge
American Goldfinch*
12-14 days
11-17 days
American Robin*
12-14 days
     13 days
Baltimore Oriole
11-14 days
11-14 days
Barn Swallow
13-15 days
19-22 days
Black-capped Chickadee
12-13 days
14-18 days
Blue-headed Vireo*
13-15 days
13-14 days
Blue Jay*
17-18 days
17-21 days
Bobolink*
11-13 days
10-14 days
Brown Thrasher*
11-14 days
11-12 days
Canada Goose
25-28 days
  6-7 weeks
Carolina Wren*
12-16 days
12-14 days
Cedar Waxwing
11-13 days
14-18 days
Chimney Swift
16-21 days
28-30 days
Chipping Sparrow*
10-15 days
  9-10 days
Dark-eyed Junco
12-13 days
 9-12 days
Downy Woodpecker
     12 days
18-21 days
Eastern Bluebird
11-19 days
17-19 days
Eastern Meadowlark
13-14 days
10-12 days
Eastern Phoebe*
     16 days
16-18 days
Eastern Towhee
12-13 days
10-11 days
European Starling*
     12 days
21-23 days
Gray Catbird*
12-14 days
10-11 days
Hermit Thrush*
11-13 days
11-12 days
House Finch*
13-14 days
      16 days
House Sparrow*
     11 days
      14 days
House Wren*
  9-16 days
 15-17 days
Killdeer
22-30 days
Leave nest within hours of hatching, independent at 20-31 days.
Mallard
23-30 days
Leave nest at 13-16 hours, independent at 52-70 days.
Mourning Dove*
     14 days
    15 days
Northern Cardinal*
11-13 days
 7-13 days
Northern Mockingbird*
12-13 days
    12 days
Orchard Oriole
12-14 days
11-14 days
Ovenbird
11-14 days
7-10 days
Purple Martin
15-18 days
28-29 days
Red-bellied Woodpecker
      12 days
24-27 days
Rock Pigeon
   18.5 days
25-32 days, 45 in midwinter
Ruby-throated Hummingbird*
12-14 days
18-20 days
Scarlet Tanager*
13-14 days
  9-11 days
Tufted Titmouse
12-14 days
15-16 days
Yellow Warbler*
10-13 days
  9-12 days
White-breasted Nuthatch
13-14 days
      26 days


* Species profile includes image of nest and eggs.


All nest and egg photographs by Susan Spear.

Photographs of the nests and eggs were taken from samples in the collection of the Cornell Museum of Vertebrates (CUMV). The time and support of the CUMV is greatly appreciated, as are the photographic talents of Susan Spear.


Project NestWatch

NestWatch is a Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology citizen-science project and nest-monitoring project.  It was developed in collaboration with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.

Visit the NestWatch web site to learn how you can participate.

Visit the Nest Monitoring page for questions and answers about nest monitoring.