Black-capped Chickadee eggs
White with fine reddish-brown dots, about 0.55–0.63 inches long — about 62% of the width of a US quarter. A Black-capped Chickadee lays 1–13 eggs (usually 6–8), and they hatch after 11–14 days.
- Color
- White with fine reddish-brown dots
- Length
- 0.55–0.63 in (14–16 mm)
- Width
- 0.43–0.51 in (11–13 mm)
- Eggs per clutch
- 1–13 eggs (usually 6–8)
- Incubation
- 11–14 days
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Nest
- Excavates or reuses cavities in soft, rotting wood; readily uses nest boxes
How to recognise a Black-capped Chickadee egg
- Color: white with fine reddish-brown dots. Markings vary between females and are often heaviest around the wide end; the same female tends to lay a similar pattern every time.
- Size: 14–16 mm long by 11–13 mm wide. For scale, a US quarter is 24.3 mm across, so this egg is about 62% of the width of a US quarter.
- Where you find it: excavates or reuses cavities in soft, rotting wood; readily uses nest boxes. Black-capped chickadees also use nest boxes with a 1 1/8 in round entrance, so eggs in a box are a strong clue.
- Clutch: 1–13 eggs (usually 6–8). A nest with far more eggs than this may hold eggs from two females, or a cowbird egg laid by a brood parasite.
Eggs that look similar
These species lay eggs in the same color group, sorted by how close they are in length. Size and nest site usually settle it.
| Species | Egg | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Black-capped Chickadee | white with fine reddish-brown dots | 14–16 mm |
| House Wren | white or pinkish, heavily dotted with reddish brown | 15–18 mm |
| Tufted Titmouse | white or cream, speckled with brown or purple | 16–19 mm |
| Carolina Wren | white or pinkish, speckled with brown | 17–20 mm |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | creamy white or pinkish, speckled with reddish brown | 18–20 mm |
When black-capped chickadees lay eggs, state by state
Laying starts earliest in Colorado (Apr) and latest in Alaska (May). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
| State / province | Nesting season |
|---|---|
| Alaska | May–Jul |
| Alberta | May–Jul |
| British Columbia | May–Jul |
| Colorado | Apr–Jul |
| Connecticut | Apr–Jul |
| Idaho | Apr–Jul |
| Illinois | Apr–Jul |
| Indiana | Apr–Jul |
| Iowa | Apr–Jul |
| Kansas | Apr–Jul |
| Maine | May–Jul |
| Manitoba | May–Jul |
| Massachusetts | Apr–Jul |
| Michigan | Apr–Jul |
| Minnesota | May–Jul |
| Missouri | Apr–Jul |
| Montana | May–Jul |
| Nebraska | Apr–Jul |
| Nevada | Apr–Jul |
| New Brunswick | May–Jul |
| New Hampshire | May–Jul |
| New Jersey | Apr–Jul |
| New Mexico | Apr–Jul |
| New York | Apr–Jul |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | May–Jun |
| North Dakota | May–Jul |
| Northwest Territories | May–Jul |
| Nova Scotia | May–Jul |
| Ohio | Apr–Jul |
| Ontario | May–Jul |
| Oregon | Apr–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | Apr–Jul |
| Prince Edward Island | May–Jul |
| Quebec | May–Jul |
| Rhode Island | Apr–Jul |
| Saskatchewan | May–Jul |
| South Dakota | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | Apr–Jul |
| Vermont | May–Jul |
| Virginia | May–Jun |
| Washington | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | May–Jul |
| Wyoming | May–Jul |
| Yukon | May–Jul |
From egg to fledgling
Eggs hatch after 11–14 days and the young leave 12–16 days later. See the full baby Black-capped Chickadee guide for nestling stages and what to do if you find one on the ground.
Found eggs in your yard?
- Leave them. Parents often step away for long stretches, especially before the full clutch is laid, because most songbirds do not start incubating until the last or second-to-last egg.
- A single egg on the ground is usually lost for good. Eggs cannot be hatched at home, and possession of native bird eggs is illegal without a permit.
- If a nest is somewhere inconvenient, wait it out. Most small songbirds are done in three to five weeks.
- Watch from a distance and keep pets indoors. Repeated visits can lead predators to the nest.
Questions
Frequently asked
What color are Black-capped Chickadee eggs?
White with fine reddish-brown dots.
How big is a Black-capped Chickadee egg?
About 0.55–0.63 in long and 0.43–0.51 in wide (14–16 × 11–13 mm) — about 62% of the width of a US quarter.
How many eggs does a Black-capped Chickadee lay?
1–13 eggs (usually 6–8) per clutch, usually one egg a day, with 1 per season.
How long until Black-capped Chickadee eggs hatch?
Incubation takes 11–14 days. The young then stay in the nest 12–16 days — about 23–30 days from incubation to leaving.
Can I move or touch a Black-capped Chickadee nest with eggs?
No. Native birds, their nests and eggs are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Wait until the young have left before removing an old nest.
Sources
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds: Black-capped Chickadee life history
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.