British birds’ eggs are found in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Although the default colour of a bird’s egg is white due to the calcium carbonate from which the shell is made, other pigments can cause eggs to take on different colours and patterns.
Passerines tend to lay coloured eggs: birds that build their nests in trees are more likely to have blue or green eggs while those who build their nests near the ground usually produce brown or speckled eggs to help with camouflage.
Smooth, glossy, pale blue-green eggs with reddish-brown spots
Size – 29 x 21 mm
Weight – 7.2 g
Clutch size – 3-4 eggs
Smooth, glossy, pale blue eggs, sometimes with brown markings
Size – 30 x 21 mm
Weight – 7.0 g
Clutch size – 4-5 eggs
Smooth, glossy, pale blue eggs, with purple-brown splotches
Size – 19 x 15 mm
Weight – 2.2 g
Clutch size – 4-5 eggs
Smooth, glossy, pale blue eggs, with reddish markings
Size – 17 x 13 mm
Weight – 1.5 g
Clutch size – 5-7 eggs
Smooth, glossy, bright blue eggs, with black spots
Size – 27 x 20 mm
Weight – 6.0 g
Clutch size – 4 eggs
Smooth, glossy, white eggs, with purple or reddish brown spots
Size – 16 x 12 mm
Weight – 1.1 g
Clutch size – 5-16 eggs
Smooth, non-glossy, pale blue eggs, with fine purple or brown spots
Size – 18 x 13 mm
Weight – 1.7 g
Clutch size – 4-5 eggs
Smooth, white or buff eggs with reddish-brown spots
Size – 20 x 15 mm
Weight – 2.4 g
Clutch size – 4-5 eggs
Smooth, waxy, creamy-white, buff, or pale green eggs with no markings
Size – 57 x 41 mm
Weight – 54 g
Clutch size – 7-14 eggs
Smooth, glossy, white eggs with grey or black speckles
Size – 22 x 16 mm
Weight – 2.9 g
Clutch size – 3-7 eggs
Smooth, glossy, pale blue eggs with reddish-brown spots
Size – 30 x 22 mm
Weight – 7.8 g
Clutch size – 3-6 eggs
Smooth, non-glossy, pale green eggs with brown blotches
Size – 47 x 33 mm
Weight – 26.0 g
Clutch size – 2-5 eggs
Smooth, non-glossy, buff or stone coloured eggs with black blotches
Size – 71 x 49 mm
Weight – 92.0 g
Clutch size – 2-3 eggs
Smooth, glossy, white eggs with no markings
Size – 41 x 29 mm
Weight – 18.9 g
Clutch size – 2 eggs
Smooth, glossy, white eggs with purple spots
Size – 14 x 11 mm
Weight – 0.9 g
Clutch size – 6-8 eggs
Smooth, glossy, pale blue eggs with purple spots
Size – 19 x 15 mm
Weight – 2.1 g
Clutch size – 4-7 eggs
Smooth, glossy, pale blue-green eggs with brown and grey markings
Size – 43 x 30 mm
Weight – 19.8 g
Clutch size – 3-4 eggs
Smooth, glossy, white eggs with purple markings
Size – 21 x 16 mm
Weight – 2.9 g
Clutch size – 3-4 eggs
Smooth, glossy, bright blue eggs with no markings
Size – 19 x 15 mm
Weight – 2.1 g
Clutch size – 4-6 eggs
Smooth, glossy, white eggs with reddish-purple spots
Size – 18 x 14 mm
Weight – 1.7 g
Clutch size – 7-15 eggs
Remember in the UK wild birds are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and it is illegal to intentionally take or destroy the eggs of any wild bird or have in one’s possession an egg that has been taken in contravention of the Act. It is also illegal to intentionally or recklessly disturb any nesting bird listed on Schedule 1.
If you have knowledge of the whereabouts of any birds’ nests, particularly rarer breeds, then please be careful with that information. Do not openly discuss or post any information online that could be used by egg thieves even when the breeding season is over.