Funded by:

NestWatch

In collaboration with:

Developed by:Developed by:

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NestWatch - www.nestwatch.org

A citizen-science nest monitoring project from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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NestWatch

It's a rewarding way to participate in scientific research and have fun outdoors.

NestWatch collects data on ALL North American breeding birds.

However, several species will be followed more closely because they are more accessible – they tend to nest near humans and across a variety of landscapes.

We call them our “FOCAL SPECIES”

Please join us in our investigations to find out more about the birds we see in our everyday environment.

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NestWatch Focal Species

American GoldfinchAmerican KestrelAmerican RobinBarn SwallowBlack-capped ChickadeeHouse FinchHouse WrenMourning DoveNorthern MockingbirdRed-winged BlackbirdSong SparrowTree Swallow* Brown-headed Cowbird

Lesser GoldfinchMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeViolet-green swallowWestern BluebirdWestern Scrub Jay

Blue JayCarolina ChickadeeEastern BluebirdEastern PhoebeGray CatbirdNorthern Cardinal

Widely Distributed Eastern North America

Western North America

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Widely Distributed Focal Species

American Goldfinch House Wren

American Kestrel Mourning Dove

American Robin Northern Mockingbird

Barn Swallow Red-winged Blackbird

Black-capped Chickadee Song Sparrow

House Finch Tree Swallow

* Brown-headed Cowbird

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American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

Habitat & Range

Nest Type & EggsNest: Tight cup of twigs, roots, and spider silk with a soft (thistle) lining; built by femaleEggs: (2-7) White tinted with light blue

Nest Location

Areas with a variety of deciduous vegetation, suburban yards

1-30 ft. - Shaded areas with dense leaf canopy

Cool Fact

Late nesters (June-July) &

strict vegetarians!

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American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Shallow scrape in loose material on the cavity floor, no nesting material; built by female Eggs: (3-5) White, cream, or pink with brown specks

Nest Location

Variety of open areas: forest edges, orchards, pastures, deserts, etc.

10-30 ft. - Cavities in trees, buildings, nest boxes, cliffs, & cacti

Habitat & Range

Cool FactNestlings squirt

feces on the cavity walls, keeping the

floor clean

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American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Nest Type & Eggs

Nest Location

Wide range such as forest openings, woodlands, farmlands, yards, parks

5-50 ft. - Trees, shrubs, or buildings, usually located in a crotch

Nest: Open cup of grass & twigs, held together with mud, lined with fine dry grass; built by femaleEggs: (3-4) Pale blue

Habitat & Range

Cool FactRobins can

become intoxicated from eating too much

honeysuckle!

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Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Open, shallow cup of mud, grass, & hair, lined with feathers; built by both adultsEggs: (4-5) White with spotting

Nest Location

Breeds in variety of areas, sometimes near water

As high as 100 ft. Usually stuck against a flat surface with overhead support

Habitat & Range

Cool FactUnmated males

will kill nestlings of a mated pair to mate with the

female

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Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cavity with moss base, lined with fine material such as animal fur; built by femaleEggs: (6-8) White with reddish-brown speckles

Nest Location

Breeds in wooded areas

4-40 ft - Cavity in rotten wood, old woodpecker hole, or a nest-box

Habitat & Range

Cool FactChickadees can

remember thousand s of

locations where they’ve hidden

seeds

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House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of grass, leaves, string, feathers, etc., lined with fine material; built by female.Eggs: (2-6) Pale blue with speckles

Nest Location

Variety of urban & suburban habitats. Rarely use broad-leaf trees or cavities

10-15 ft. – Pine trees, building ledges, vines, planters

Habitat & Range

Cool FactNestlings are fed an exclusive plant

diet.

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House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Stick platform, nest cup lined with grass, bark, hair, feathers; built by both adultsEggs: (4-8) White or pinkish with reddish spots

Nest Location

Wherever there is low shrubby cover & thickets, with holes for nesting

2-20 ft - Placed in tree cavity, nest box & various crevices

Habitat & Range

Cool FactAdults will

puncture the eggs of other species nesting nearby

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Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Flimsy platform of twigs, pine needles or grass stems; built by both adultsEggs: (2) White, unmarked

Nest Location

Breeds in open woodlands, cultivated areas, suburban gardens

1-250 ft. - Trees, shrubs, vines, flower pots & man-made structures

Habitat & Range

Cool FactA single pair may have up to five or six clutches in a

year

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Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup with outer layer of twigs, lined with grass, leaves, & plant fibers; built by male Eggs: (2-6) Shades of gray, white, blue, & green

Nest Location

Breeds in a variety of areas, usually with some sort of vegetation

3-6 ft. - Built in shrubs & trees, sometimes found in eaves & building rafters

Habitat & Range

Cool FactBoth males and

females continue to add to their

songs throughout life

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Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Woven sedges and grass, lined with fine grass & rushes; built by female

Eggs: (2-4) Very pale blue with dark marks

Nest Location

Variable – wetland, upland, & agricultural; some urban or suburban

1-8 ft. - In vegetation near or over water: cattails, trees, cereal crops

Habitat & Range

Cool FactOne male may have up to 15

females nesting in his territory

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Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup with rough layer of dead grass & weeds, lined with fine grass & hair; built by femaleEggs: (3-5) Very pale blue with reddish speckles

Nest Location

Low scrubby growth and thickets, most often in moist or swampy locations

0-4 ft - On ground, grass tuft, or shrub; found higher as vegetation grows

Habitat & Range

Cool FactFemales prefer

males with songs that reflect the male’s ability to

learn

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Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of dry grass, pine needles, etc., lined with feathers; built by femaleEggs: (4-7) White, unmarked

Nest Location

Prefers open woodlands or farmlands near water

3-30 ft. - Natural cavity, woodpecker hole, nest box, or in a man-made cavity

Habitat & Range

Cool FactUsing feathers in

their nests helps to reduce the parasite

load

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Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Habitat & Range

Nest Type & Eggs

Nest Location

Habitats with low or scattered trees among grassland vegetation

0-10 ft - Female cowbirds choose nests with smaller eggs & lay an egg once the host lays two eggs

Nest: No nest; lays eggs in nests of other bird species

Eggs: (1-7) Whitish with brown or gray spots

Cool FactThey are the only

brood parasite common across North America

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Focal Species of Eastern North America

Blue JayCarolina ChickadeeEastern BluebirdEastern PhoebeGray CatbirdNorthern Cardinal

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Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of twigs bark, or moss, lined with small roots, mud, or leaves; built by both adultsEggs: (2-7) Variety of colors with brown spots

Nest Location

Breeds in variety of areas including woodlands, rural & suburban habitats

3-90 ft. - Tree crotches or branches, near buildings in suburban areas

Habitat & Range

Cool FactThe oldest known wild Blue Jay lived to be at least 17

years old!

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Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cavity lined with moss, bark, animal hair & plant fibers; built by femaleEggs: (3-10) White with speckles

Nest Location

Breeds in wooded areas

2-25 ft. - Usually in dead tree hole, wooden post, or a man-made structure

Habitat & Range

Cool FactPair bonding

between male and female can remain intact for several

years

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Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Loose cup of grass and pine needles, lined with hair, grass, or feathers; built by femaleEggs: (4-5) Pale blue

Nest Location

Open woodland or man-made sites around farms & buildings

2-30 ft. - Natural cavity, old woodpecker hole, or nest box on a post

Habitat & Range

Cool FactMales do a wing

display at the nest to attract females

to the cavity

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Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

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Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of mud, moss and leaves, lined with fine grass & hair; built by femaleEggs: (2-6) White

Nest Location

Man-made structures & other structures, usually near running fresh water

3-20 ft. - Under bridge, cliff, or eave of building; cemented to wall

Habitat & Range

Cool FactPhoebes are loners, rarely

coming in contact with other phoebes

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Gray Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Bulky cup of twigs, leaves, & grass; lined with fine roots, leaves, & pine needles; built by femaleEggs: (5-6) Uniform deep blue or greenish blue

Nest Location

Woodland areas with abundant vegetation

3-6 ft. - Found in small tree, shrub, or vine; maybe much higher

Habitat & Range

Cool FactCatbirds will

recognize cowbird eggs and throw them out of the

nest

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Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of 4 layers: outer layer of rough debris, inner layers of fine materials; built by femaleEggs: (1-5) White with gray, buff, or green tinting

Nest Location

Breeds in variety of deciduous, coniferous, & herbaceous vegetation

3-30 ft. - Hidden in twigs and branches

Habitat & Range

Cool FactMales will often attack their own

reflections, thinking them an intruder

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Focal Species of Western North America

Lesser GoldfinchMountain BluebirdSay's PhoebeViolet-green swallowWestern BluebirdWestern Scrub Jay

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Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup largely of plant fibers, lined with hair or feathers; built by female

Eggs: (2-6) Pale, with varying tints

Nest Location

Variety of deciduous or coniferous habitats in rural, suburban, & urban areas

4-45 ft. - Different species of trees and shrubs, such as cottonwood and willow

Habitat & Range

Cool FactThe amount of

black or green on a males back can

vary in their range

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Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currocoides)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of grass, weed stems, & pine needles; lined with wool, hair, or feathers; built by femaleEggs: (4-8) Pale blue, bluish white, rarely white

Nest Location

Open areas & the edges of deciduous and coniferous forests

1-7 ft. - Natural cavities, woodpecker holes, cliff crevices, or nest boxes

Habitat & Range

Cool FactAlthough the male

appears to help build the nest, he

usually drops material en route.

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Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Cup of stems, grass, moss, & rocks; lined with paper, hair, wool, or feathers; built by femaleEggs: (3-7) White with occasional reddish spots

Nest Location

Breeds in various open & dry areas; prairies, plains, canyons, & deserts

5-50 ft. - Requires a horizontal ledge, ex: cliff, mine, barn, old car, etc.

Habitat & Range

Cool FactBreeds further north than any

flycatcher, limited only by lack of nest

sites

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Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Constructed of stems, twigs, grass, & fur; lined with feathers; built by both adultsEggs: (4-6) White

Nest Location

Open deciduous or mixed forests of ponderosa pine, aspen, willow, & spruce

5-15 ft. - Cliff crevices, tree cavities, woodpecker holes, old swallow nests, under eaves & nest boxes

Habitat & Range

Cool FactA violet-green

Swallow pair has been observed

helping Western Bluebirds raise

young

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Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Loose collection of grass, weeds, hair and feathers; built by females

Eggs: (3-8) Pale blue, bluish white, or white

Nest Location

Open habitats with scattered trees: farmlands, orchards, open forest edge

4-40 ft. - Natural cavities, woodpecker holes, or nest boxes

Habitat & Range

Cool FactHelpers are often seen at the nest, most are young from previous

years

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Western Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica)

Nest Type & EggsNest: Open cup of twigs and plants roots, lined with plant fibers and animal hair; built by bothEggs: (1-5) Greenish with speckles

Nest Location

Various trees, shrubs, and vines

6-12 ft. - In tree, shrub, bush, or vines; often well concealed within shrubs

Habitat & Range

Cool FactUsed in several

laboratory studies for its ability to hide & remember seeds

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NestWatch – www.nestwatch.org

Observing nests is an educational and motivational experience.

Remember, the birds you observe will vary depending on the region that you live. Also, you can monitor and enter data for any bird nests found, no matter the species.

When monitoring nests please follow the NestWatcher’s Code of Conduct.

For further information, please visit our website at www.nestwatch.org or search our Resource Center at www.birds.cornell.edu/nestinginfo

We are grateful to all the thousands of nest monitors who have volunteered their time and effort to monitor, record, and submit their valuable observations.