Unidentifed egg

[Michael A]

can anyone identify these eggs found predated on moorland northern england.came across them about 10 years ago and never been able to positively identify them.

[astarsdad]

Hi Michael

I'll stick my head on the line and say quail eggs. Terry

File:Coturnix coturnix eggs.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Michael

Red Grouse is a possibility.

Cheers Jason

[valleyforge]

Hi Michael and wecome.

The eggs don't appear predated ... did you reposition them for the photograph, or is that how you found them?

Can you maybe give some indication of size if you can remember?

I tend to agree that they are somewhat alike quail eggs, but eggs of some plovers don't look that dissimilar either.

Whether or not this is a clutch of 3 and in situ could be fairly significant to a proper ID.

[Michael A]

They are definetly not Quail same size as grouse eggs they were four three of which i positioned for photo. they where found in upper teesdale near cow green reservoir, (probably predated by blk head gulls) plovers lay four eggs and grouse 6+ i thought dotteral as a few have been recorded in the past in this area. I know they usually breed in northern scotland but colouring closely resembles these eggs.

[Pigeon feather]

They look identical to quail eggs to me I have been breeding coturnix quail for over two years now and the eggs are just the same as the photo, wild quail are rare in the UK now but 10 years or so ago they may have been common, if these are not quail eggs they have to be from something very very closely related was looking at grouse eggs but the markings are much more speckled on their eggs, but it may be they lay eggs with variable markings, I know my quail do!

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by Pigeon feather

They look identical to quail eggs to me I have been breeding coturnix quail for over two years now and the eggs are just the same as the photo, wild quail are rare in the UK now but 10 years or so ago they may have been common, if these are not quail eggs they have to be from something very very closely related was looking at grouse eggs but the markings are much more speckled on their eggs, but it may be they lay eggs with variable markings, I know my quail do!

Northern moorland seems an unlikely habitat for Quail to breed in, so I feel this is unlikely. I don't think the numbers are particularly lower currently; the numbers visiting the UK are erratic + vary fromyear to year.