Great Tit eggs

[patamos]

Hi All,

Moved into a bungalow in Clacton last July and have put a few nest boxes around the garden and low and behold we have a lodger in one of them we think it is a great tit and we have eggs in the box. Can anyone tell me what the eggs are like.

[Elizabeth B]

From - British Garden Birds - Great Tit

The Great Tit's eggs are the largest of the British tits at 18 mm by 14 mm; they are smooth and glossy, and white with purplish-red spots.

[Chris Hammond]

I appreciate Elizabeth has quoted it from somewhere, and I might be wrong, but I think 18mm is stretching it a bit.

They are slighlty pyraformic in shape and a creamy white with reddish brown comma like markings predominantly towards the blunter end of the egg.

[astarsdad]

I would suggest it is easier to identify the bird rather than the egg. The eggs of a great tit are slightly larger than a blue tits but much the same.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by astarsdad

I would suggest it is easier to identify the bird rather than the egg. The eggs of a great tit are slightly larger than a blue tits but much the same.

They're usually more heavily spotted, and are noticeably larger.

[Elizabeth B]

Originally Posted by Chris Hammond

I appreciate Elizabeth has quoted it from somewhere, and I might be wrong, but I think 18mm is stretching it a bit.

They are slighlty pyraformic in shape and a creamy white with reddish brown comma like markings predominantly towards the blunter end of the egg.

I've now consulted two more references:

Collins Field Guide - Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings - 17.5 x 13.5mm

BTO BirdFacts - Great Tit Egg Size: 18 x 14 mm Egg Weight: 1.7 g (of which 6 % is shell)

[Chris Hammond]

Originally Posted by Elizabeth B

I've now consulted two more references:

Collins Field Guide - Bird Nests, Eggs and Nestlings - 17.5 x 13.5mm

BTO BirdFacts - Great Tit Egg Size: 18 x 14 mm Egg Weight: 1.7 g (of which 6 % is shell)

Fair enough Elizabeth, might explain why I make so many mistakes at work. :-)

[Elizabeth B]

That's OK, Chris - I just like to establish the facts, if possible! (Maybe I should get out more)?

[patamos]

Hi All,

Thank you so much for the information. I just wondered what the eggs were like because the nest boxes are in my back garden and up until yesterday we hadnt seen any birds enter the nest box.