Whose Nest Is It?

Can you guess who built this nest? These clues may help you hone in on the possibilities. A field guide to nests and eggs and our AllAboutBirds.org web site will provide further help.

1. Region. Knowing which species breed in the area will help eliminate many possibilities. This nest was found in south-central Ohio.

2. Habitat. Find out which birds breed in the habitat where you found the nest. This nest was in a hedgerow on a roadside in a semirural area.

3. Height above ground. About half of all American bird species nest on the ground. Others may nest low to the ground; others high in a canopy. This one was 5 feet above the ground.

4. Nest substrate. Some bird species prefer to build nests on particular surfaces such as on grass, in a shrub, in a tree, or on a cliff. This one was in a dense shrub.

5. Nest position. Nest placement is a telltale sign. For example, a bird may prefer to nest on a leaf, on a branch, in a fork, within a cavity, or behind a flap of bark. This nest was within a shrub, eliminating 70 species that nest in cavities and about a dozen species that suspend their nests on outer branches.

6. Size. The nest's dimensions hint at the size of the bird. The inside of this nest is about 3.5" across, 4" high, and 2" deep, suggesting a robin-sized bird.

7. Shape. Nest shape can be diagnostic for some species. Cup nests such as this one are the most common type for songbirds.

8. Nest material. Some bird species prefer certain materials, such as mud, sticks, or grass. The lining can be distinctive too. This nest is made of twigs, grasses, and leaves. It is lined with rootlets and grapevine bark, a distinctive clue.

9. Eggs. Note the size, shape, and markings of eggs, if present. These eggs are blue.

10. Parents. The surest way to know who owns the nest is to watch from a distance until a parent returns.

—Tina Phillips, project leader, NestWatch

click to see the Answer to the Mystery Nest

Yellow Warbler	American Goldfinch	Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal	Downy Woodpecker	House Wren
Red-eyed Vireo	Black-capped Chickadee	Barn Swallow

Paintings from Illustrations of Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio, by Genevieve Estelle Jones, published 1886.

View the nest slide shows on our All About Birds page to view these and other images at a larger size.

For permission to reprint all or part of this article, please contact Laura Erickson, editor, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY, 14850. Phone: (607) 254-1114. email: lle24@cornell.edu