Bird Egg Identification Sites

[cutecoot]

Found some pieces of eggshell while out walking a few weeks back and tried to google some sites where I might be able to identify it, but was surprised not to be able to find anything at all. Just wondered if anyone could shed some light on *why* ... I wondered whether it might be to discourage people from taking birds eggs, but then surely if people were going to do that as a serious thing, there is plenty of information elsewhere, books, etc?

Any thoughts, or even websites that I may have missed?!

p.s. Can't remember what the eggshell was like now, it was that many weeks ago, and I got more wrapped up in trying to find a reference site, than finding out what the actual egg itself was!

[m1.carson]

Sorry,

No help to you on birds egg identification, but, as you've brought the subject up we found a soft one today, more like a turtle egg, it's all squishy, no hard shell, it's approx. 35x23mm our best guess is an immature pidgeons egg.

Max.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by m1.carson

Sorry,

No help to you on birds egg identification, but, as you've brought the subject up we found a soft one today, more like a turtle egg, it's all squishy, no hard shell, it's approx. 35x23mm our best guess is an immature pidgeons egg.

Max.

Sounds like a grass snake egg. The only book I have on the subject of birds eggs is my old Observer book. You should track one down from a decent second hand book dealer.

Regards, Chris

[2dogs2000]

There is a site with a Gallery of replica birds eggs. I don't know how accurate they are and they don't include egg sizes but it might give you a nudge in the right direction. Who knows?

Nearly forgot to tell you

It's called Avesovum.

[ron1863]

Here you go:

Replica Birds Eggs - Raptors, Birds of Prey, Waders, Seabirds,Water Birds, Extinct

[RobinP]

Amazon still sell books on the subject.

[cutecoot]

Hey, that's a great site - thanks guys! Pity they don't give some idea of size, but I suppose that's probably easy to work out - if you find a small egg, its likely to be a small bird! The markings/colourings look pretty good, anyway.

I used to have one of the Observer books on eggs when I were a nipper, Chris .. (I think my sister has it now) .. I shall keep a look out for one in a second hand book shop. (Have picked up some other good ones recently from charity shops - just got a nice little Readers Digest book on British Birds with some lovely hand-drawn pictures of birds inside.)

[Hobjob]

There is a general disinclincation to publish on birds eggs and nests these days for the obvious reason.

I have a copy of "Collins Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs", revised edition 1968 and I think that was the last edition and I ather there won't be any more.

[written by RSR Fitter and RA Richardson - Same initials as one of the Fitters of wild flower books, so quite a polyglot!]

[larachmor]

Specific books on identifying birds' eggs are not now widely available.
However, I have a copy of a book which is still widely available, and quite cheaply too:

Woodland & Hill Birds - Eggs & Nests, written by Jiri Felix. (There are others in the series too)


Amazon.co.uk: Jiri Felix: Books

[oxycera]

If I'm not mistaken, the 'Popular Handbook of British Birds' by PAD Hollom et al, had a good photographic section of birds' eggs.