Nests & NestingPhotos of Nests, Eggs & YoungSmall Cavity Nest Contents ID Matrix

Small Cavity Nest Contents ID Matrix

Be aware there is often considerable variation in a nest of a particular species, depending on the individual, circumstances, location and available materials, and sometimes nests are started by one species and taken over by another. For detailed descriptions of nest construction and egg identification, see Nest and Egg ID (also with links to photos of nests, eggs and young.) * = Occasionally found, but not definitive. More ID links below.

CLUE->
SPECIES
Moss
Leaves
Grass
Pine
Needles
Feathers
Rootlets
Bark
Twigs
Fur
Hair
Fibers
Trash
Snake
skin
Other
Cup
Fine in cup, occas seedheads
X
* Few
rarely
Deep cylinder
Bluebird, Mountain
X, occas seedheads
X
Large
*shreds
*
*
Deep cylinder
Bluebird,
Western
X, occas seedheads
X
Large
*
*
Deep cylinder
X
X cup
Deep fur plug
Chickadee, Carolina
X
X
*Strips
X cup
X
Twigs
X
Fecal sac wreath later
x
X
X
X a few clumps
Seldom
Fine grass matted hair
Flycatcher, Great-crested
x
x
x
x
Twigs
X
Common
Fine hair/
feathers/
*
Coarse, often Seedheads
x
X
x
*
X
Deep or tunnel
CLUE->
SPECIES
Moss
Leaves
Grass
Pine
Needles
Feathers
Rootlets
Bark
Twigs
Fur
Hair
Fibers
Trash
Snake
skin
Other
Cup
Dried
X
X
Strips or chips
X clump
Cotton
Matted hair
Nuthatch, Pygmy
X
X
*
Shreds
X clump
*
Nuthatch, Red-Breast
X
X
X
Shreds
Nuthatch, White-breasted
x
x
x
Bark strips
X clump
*
Earth
Saucer
X
Dry
X
Small strips
Fibers
Neat round
Purple
Martin
Green
X
X
x
Green & Dried
Coarse
Lots
X
twigs
x
Shallow
X
X
Lots, downy
X
Dried crumpld
X all over
*
x
Deeo
X
Dead
X
X
X
twigs
X
x
Tiny, deep
X
X
cup
x
some twigs, bark
cup
x
domed tunnel
Cup only
Cup only
Many Twigs
Cup only
* String
deep, back
Chipmunk
Shredded
X
Fluff
*
x
fine
x
shredded bark
x
x
Acorns
no cup
Squirrel
x
Green or dried, lg
Acorns
X
x
X
x
Bark, small twigs
Fur
Insulation
Acorns
None
CLUE->
SPECIES
Moss
Leaves
Grass
Pine
Needles
Feathers
Rootlets
Bark
Twigs
Fur
Hair
Fibers
Trash
Snake
skin
Other
Cup

Cavity Nester Nests, Eggs and Young Photos and Bios. Also see Nest ID Matrix (contents) and Egg ID Matrix (color, spots, etc.)

Select bird name (alphabetical) Ash Thoated Flycatcher Bio Ash Throated Flycatcher Photos Bewick’s Wren Bio Bewick’s Wren Photos Black-capped Chickadee Photos Black-capped Chickadee Bio Bluebird – Eastern Bio Bluebird – Eastern, Photos Bluebird – Eastern, sequence from egg to fledge Bluebird, Mountain Bio Bluebird, Mountain, Photos Bluebird, Western Bio Bluebirds, Western Photos Brown-headed Nuthatch photos Carolina Chickadee bio Carolina Chickadee Photos Carolina Wren Bio Carolina Wren Photos Cowbird Bio Cowbird Photos Flying Squirrel Bio Flying Squirrel Photos Great Crested Flycatcher Photos Great Crested Flycatcher Bio House Finch Bio House Finch Photos House Sparrow Nest Photos House Sparrow Bio House Wren Bio House Wren Photos Mice and Rats Mountain Chickadee Bio Mountain Chickadee Photos Phoebe Photos Prothonotary Warblers Bio Prothonotary Warbler Photos Pygmy Nuthatch Red Squirrels Bio Starling (European) Photos Starling (European) Bio Titmouse, Juniper Bio Titmouse, Juniper, Photos Titmouse, Oak Photos Titmouse, Tufted Bio Titmouse, Tufted Photos Tree Swallow Bio Tree Swallow Photos Violet-Green Swallow Bio Violet-green Swallow Photos Western Bluebird Bio Western Bluebird photos White-breasted Nuthatch Photos White-breasted Nuthatch Bio


I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery
than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.
Harry Emerson Fosdick


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