There are a number of bird species that lay eggs with a distinctly reddish or pinkish hue. The coloration of bird eggs is primarily determined by pigments like porphyrins, biliverdin, and protoporphyrin. Species that lay reddish eggs include various finches, falcons, owls, ducks, and birds of prey. Some of the most common reddish egg layers are robins, falcons, owls, and ducks. The vibrant egg coloration serves an adaptive purpose and can signal healthy breeding fitness to potential mates. It also provides camouflage and protection from predators when birds nest. Read on to learn more about birds that lay reddish eggs and how egg color is determined.
What Causes Reddish Eggs?
The primary pigments responsible for red, pink, brown, blue, and green egg coloration are:
- Porphyrins – Cause red-brown eggs
- Biliverdin – Leads to blue-green eggs
- Protoporphyrin – Produces redder eggs
These pigments are secreted during egg formation in the oviduct and deposited onto the eggshell as it forms. The pigment concentration and combination determine the final egg color. Species with reddish eggs tend to have higher levels of porphyrins and protoporphyrins.
Some additional factors influencing egg color include:
- Genetics – The bird’s genetic makeup controls pigment production
- Diet – Access to certain carotenoids through diet impacts color
- Environment – Conditions like temperature affect color shade
- Age of hen – Younger hens may lay paler eggs
So the reddish egg color is primarily caused by pigments, but also depends on the bird’s health, diet, and environment during egg formation.
What Birds Lay Reddish Eggs?
Some species of birds that commonly lay reddish or pinkish eggs include:
Robins
The American robin (Turdus migratorius) lays eggs that are a light blue to bluish-green with reddish-brown spotting. The speckled appearance helps camouflage the eggs when the robin builds an open nest. The brown spots get darker as the embryo develops.
Robin Egg Facts |
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Color: Pale blue with red-brown spots |
Clutch Size: 3-5 eggs |
Incubation: 12-14 days |
Nest Type: Cup built with grasses, feathers, mud |
Robins lay some of the most colorful and distinctly spotted eggs of common backyard birds in North America. The pigments biliverdin and protoporphyrin are responsible for the blue-green and reddish spots.
Barn Owls
The barn owl (Tyto alba) lays eggs that are milky white and speckled with reddish-brown spots. The speckles help camouflage the eggs against debris and substrates when they nest in cavities, nest boxes, or platforms.
Barn Owl Egg Facts |
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Color: White with reddish-brown spots |
Clutch Size: 4-7 eggs |
Incubation Period: 31-34 days |
Nest Type: Cavities, platforms, nest boxes |
The rufous coloration comes from protoporphyrin pigments deposited on the eggshell. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs until they hatch after about one month.
Peregrine Falcons
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) lays reddish-brown eggs with darker brown blotches. The spots help the eggs blend into cliff ledges and rocky outcrops where they nest. The reddish color signals healthy breeding to potential mates.
Peregrine Falcon Egg Facts |
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Color: Cream with reddish-brown spots |
Clutch Size: 2-5 eggs |
Incubation Period: 29-35 days |
Nest Type: Cliff ledges, tall buildings |
The rich reddish hue comes from higher levels of porphyrin pigments. Both the male and female peregrine take turns incubating the clutch until hatching.
Red-Tailed Hawks
The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) lays white eggs with light reddish-brown spotting and speckling. The coloration provides effective camouflage high up in treetop nests built with sticks and branches.
Red-Tailed Hawk Egg Facts |
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Color: White with light reddish-brown spots |
Clutch Size: 1-5 eggs |
Incubation Period: 28-35 days |
Nest Type: Treetop stick nests |
The lighter reddish spotting is influenced by porphyrin and biliverdin pigments. The female hawk incubates the eggs while the male provides food.
Mallard Ducks
Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) lay large greenish-blue eggs with a slightly reddish tint. The coloration helps the eggs blend into nests made of vegetation near ponds and rivers.
Mallard Duck Egg Facts |
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Color: Greenish-blue with reddish tint |
Clutch Size: 8-13 eggs |
Incubation Period: 26-30 days |
Nest Type: Ground nests near water |
The greenish-blue comes from biliverdin while the reddish tone is influenced by porphyrin concentrations. The female mallard incubates the eggs and cares for the ducklings after hatching.
House Finches
The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) lays pretty, pale bluish eggs with reddish-brown speckles all over. The spots help camouflage the eggs when they nest in tree cavities, roof gutters, and nest boxes.
House Finch Egg Facts |
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Color: Pale blue with reddish-brown spots |
Clutch Size: 3-6 eggs |
Incubation Period: 12-15 days |
Nest Type: Tree cavities, nest boxes, human structures |
The finch eggs get their color from biliverdin (blue) and protoporphyrin (red) pigments. The male and female both help build the nest and incubate the eggs.
Why Do Birds Lay Reddish Eggs?
There are a few key reasons why certain avian species lay eggs with reddish or pinkish hues:
Camouflage
The reddish speckling helps the eggs blend into the environment, whether in an open cup nest or cavity. This helps protect the eggs from predators like snakes, crows, squirrels, and raccoons.
Sibling Recognition
Research shows the unique spotting may help parent birds identify their own eggs vs. brood parasite eggs laid by other species. This reduces the chance of wasting resources raising another bird’s young.
Signaling Healthy Genes
The rich reddish coloration provides a visible signal to potential mates about the hen’s health and vitality. Birds with the reddest eggs tend to have higher reproductive success.
Impact of Diet
Access to foods with certain carotenoids may enhance the red pigmentation. A bird able to find carotenoid-rich foods in the environment indicates fitness.
The main advantage of reddish egg coloration is camouflage, but it also communicates important visual cues about the parents’ fitness and helps with egg identification in communal nests. The color arises from pigments but also depends on health, diet, and habitat.
Conclusion
In summary, several bird species lay eggs with distinctive reddish or pinkish hues. This includes robins, owls, falcons, finches, hawks, and some waterfowl. The color primarily comes from pigments like porphyrins and protoporphyrin deposited on the eggshell during formation. Reddish eggs serve functions like camouflage, signaling mate fitness, and sibling egg recognition. The specific shade can also be impacted by diet, habitat, and genetics. So next time you find a reddish bird egg, you can bet it comes from a finch, falcon, robin, or other proud parent with a well-pigmented oviduct!