Egg ID please

[RobinP]

Found on a footpath near some lakes with the usual assortment of ducks and geese, also woodland nearby. It is about 1 1/2" long (just over 3 cm). I initially thought pheasant/partridge but not sure about those speckles.



Thanks

Robin

P.S. Just done some searching and Common Buzzard looks similar.

[Lance Morgan]

Not sure about the size but it could be a Coot or moorhen

[Za]

looks to me like a moorhen egg as well.

[valleyforge]

It's perhaps a little on the small size to be a buzzard egg I think Robin, although you are right that colour and shape are similar.

The eggshell however appears to have a slightly glossy finish, which would also rule out buzzard, and so I'd be inclined to agree with Lance, in that it's most likely from a Moorhen or Coot.

Since most Coot eggs I've seen have tended to be a little more pyriform (i.e. pear-shaped) and elongate, if pressed I'd probably side more towards Moorhen.

It's always much more difficult to identify eggs away from the nest and others in the clutch ... clutch number can of course be an additional clue as to species. There's also always a fair range of differences in marking, even within eggs from the same bird, far less same species ... and that doesn't take into account geographical differences either.

Incidentally, did this egg appear to have been predated, hatched & discarded, or was it still whole & unbroken?

[Lance Morgan]

It is far too small for a buzzard.
Looking at it again the shape is not typical for moorhen another possibility is a French (red-Legged) partridge

[astarsdad]

Looks like a coots egg to me. Moorhens tend to be more speckled.

[RobinP]

Originally Posted by valleyforge

Incidentally, did this egg appear to have been predated, hatched & discarded, or was it still whole & unbroken?

Hi VF

Yes it appeared to have broken underneath and leaked out though I didn't move it to examine it.

Plenty of coots and moorhens in the area so quite possible though RL partridges are also reared nearby.

Robin

[valleyforge]

Thanks Robin,

Although there are RL Partridges about in this part of the Grampians, I'm not really that familiar with them and haven't come across any of their nests/eggs as yet.

If Lance reckons your example is a good match, then I'm certainly not going to argue the point.

[Lance Morgan]

I'll go with Coot.

[RKB]

It's not RLP, which tend to be delicately speckled rather than splodged. It looks good for Moorhen to me - coots tend to be a bit greyer and have darker speckles. Moorhen speckles are usually more russet on a warmer background. They are both pretty variable though, so could be coot. It's defo one or the other.