19 eggs at true relative size, from the 10 mm egg of the Vervain Hummingbird to the 28.6 mm egg of the Black Swift.
About this collection. These eggs cover most of the birds that nest in Canada and the United States, plus a few famous eggs from elsewhere, like the Ostrich and the extinct Elephant Bird. It isn’t every bird in the world yet; we’ll update this note as the collection grows.
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
- 12.7 × 8.6 mm
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 55 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 414.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Allen's Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Allen's Hummingbird, Life History.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
- 13.29 × 8.76 mm
- Clutch: 2 eggs
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 24 eggs: Bendire, Life Histories of North American Birds, Vol. 2 (1895), p. 209.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Anna's Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Anna's Hummingbird, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (University of Saskatchewan Department of Biology Natural History Collection). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Black Swift
Cypseloides niger
- 28.6 × 19 mm
- Clutch: 1 eggs
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 34 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 260.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Black Swift, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Black Swift, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (Royal Alberta Museum). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
- 12.51 × 8.3 mm
- Clutch: 2 eggs
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 52 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 357.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Black-chinned Hummingbird, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (University of Saskatchewan Department of Biology Natural History Collection). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Blue-throated Mountain-gem
Lampornis clemenciae
- 15.1 × 10 mm
- Clutch: 1–2 eggs
Dull white, smooth and oval.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 8 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 328.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Blue-throated Mountain-gem, Life History.
- Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Broad-billed Hummingbird
Cynanthus latirostris
- 12.6 × 8.5 mm
- Clutch: 2–3 eggs
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 27 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 469.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Broad-billed Hummingbird, Life History.
- Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Selasphorus platycercus
- 13 × 8.8 mm
- Clutch: 2 eggs
White and unmarked.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 62 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 391.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Life History.
- Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Buff-bellied Hummingbird
Amazilia yucatanensis
- 13.24 × 8.65 mm
Whitish.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 50 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 445.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Life History.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Calliope Hummingbird
Selasphorus calliope
- 12.1 × 8.3 mm
Tiny, smooth, white.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 45 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 425.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Calliope Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Calliope Hummingbird, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (University of Saskatchewan Department of Biology Natural History Collection). - Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
- 20.1 × 13.24 mm
- Clutch: 3–5 eggs
Pure white.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 56 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 275.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Chimney Swift, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Chimney Swift, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (Royal Alberta Museum). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
- 12.4 × 8.2 mm
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 51 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 366.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Costa's Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Costa's Hummingbird, Life History.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Lucifer Hummingbird
Calothorax lucifer
- 12.7 × 9.7 mm
- Clutch: 2 eggs
Plain white.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 6 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 430.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Lucifer Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Lucifer Hummingbird, Life History.
- Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Rivoli's Hummingbird
Eugenes fulgens
- 15.4 × 10 mm
- Clutch: 2 eggs
White, smooth-surfaced, tiny oval eggs.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 48 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 322.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Rivoli's Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Rivoli's Hummingbird, Life History.
- Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris
- 12.9 × 8.5 mm
- Clutch: 1–3 eggs
Tiny, white.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 52 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 339.
Agrees with: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Life History. - Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (Royal Alberta Museum). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
- 13.1 × 8.8 mm
- Clutch: 2–3 eggs
Tiny, white (about a half-inch long).
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 53 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 400.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Rufous Hummingbird, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (Royal Alberta Museum). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Vaux's Swift
Chaetura vauxi
- 18.5 × 12.4 mm
- Clutch: 3–7 eggs
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 51 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 298.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Vaux's Swift, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (University of Saskatchewan Department of Biology Natural History Collection). - Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Vervain Hummingbird
Mellisuga minima
- 10 × 6.5 mm (approx.)
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Wikipedia: Vervain hummingbird (length); Estimated: width (not published).
- Description
- SaviMade's description of a typical egg.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
Make a 3D-printable copy of this egg →See posters with this egg →
Violet-crowned Hummingbird
Ramosomyia violiceps
- 14 × 9 mm
- Clutch: 2 eggs
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Life History.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Life History.
- Clutch
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds.
- Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).
White-throated Swift
Aeronautes saxatalis
- 21.24 × 13.74 mm
White.
Sources of information
- Size
- Average of 50 eggs: Bent, Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds and Their Allies (U.S. National Museum Bulletin 176, 1940), p. 314.
- Description
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds: White-throated Swift, Life History.
Drawing checked against a photo: Bird Eggs of Canada photo (University of Saskatchewan Department of Biology Natural History Collection). - Shape
- Drawn from the length and width, with the taper estimated from the typical eggs of its group (how these eggs are drawn).