Eastern Phoebe eggs
White, occasionally with a few brown spots, about 0.71–0.83 inches long — roughly the width of a US quarter. A Eastern Phoebe lays 2–6 eggs, and they hatch after 15–16 days.
- Color
- White, occasionally with a few brown spots
- Length
- 0.71–0.83 in (18–21 mm)
- Width
- 0.55–0.59 in (14–15 mm)
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 15–16 days
- Broods per year
- 1–2 per season
- Nest
- Mud-and-moss cup on a ledge under an overhang
How to recognise a Eastern Phoebe egg
- Color: white, occasionally with a few brown spots. There are no markings on a fresh egg, though eggs pick up stains from the nest as incubation goes on.
- Size: 18–21 mm long by 14–15 mm wide. For scale, a US quarter is 24.3 mm across, so this egg is roughly the width of a US quarter.
- Where you find it: mud-and-moss cup on a ledge under an overhang. Eastern phoebes do not normally use nest boxes.
- Clutch: 2–6 eggs. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Phoebe | white, occasionally with a few brown spots | 18–21 mm |
| Downy Woodpecker | white, unmarked | 19–20 mm |
| Tree Swallow | pure white, unmarked | 17–20 mm |
| Indigo Bunting | white or pale bluish, usually unmarked | 17–20 mm |
| Purple Martin | white, unmarked | 23–26 mm |
When eastern phoebes lay eggs, state by state
Laying starts earliest in Alabama (Mar) and latest in Alberta (May). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
| State / province | Nesting season |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Mar–Jul |
| Alberta | May–Jul |
| Arkansas | Apr–Jul |
| Connecticut | Apr–Jul |
| Delaware | Apr–Jul |
| Florida | Mar–Jul |
| Georgia | Mar–Jul |
| Illinois | Apr–Jul |
| Indiana | Apr–Jul |
| Iowa | Apr–Jul |
| Kansas | Apr–Jul |
| Kentucky | Apr–Jul |
| Louisiana | Mar–Jul |
| Maine | May–Jul |
| Manitoba | May–Jul |
| Maryland | Apr–Jul |
| Massachusetts | Apr–Jul |
| Michigan | Apr–Jul |
| Minnesota | May–Jul |
| Mississippi | Mar–Jul |
| Missouri | Apr–Jul |
| Nebraska | Apr–Jul |
| New Brunswick | May–Jul |
| New Hampshire | May–Jul |
| New Jersey | Apr–Jul |
| New York | Apr–Jul |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | May–Jul |
| North Carolina | Apr–Jul |
| North Dakota | May–Jul |
| Northwest Territories | May–Jul |
| Nova Scotia | May–Jul |
| Ohio | Apr–Jul |
| Oklahoma | Apr–Jul |
| Ontario | May–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | Apr–Jul |
| Prince Edward Island | May–Jul |
| Quebec | May–Jul |
| Rhode Island | Apr–Jul |
| Saskatchewan | May–Jul |
| South Carolina | Mar–Jul |
| South Dakota | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | Apr–Jul |
| Texas | Mar–Jul |
| Vermont | May–Jul |
| Virginia | Apr–Jul |
| West Virginia | Apr–Jul |
| Wisconsin | May–Jul |
From egg to fledgling
Eggs hatch after 15–16 days and the young leave 16–20 days later. See the full baby Eastern Phoebe 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 Eastern Phoebe eggs?
White, occasionally with a few brown spots.
How big is a Eastern Phoebe egg?
About 0.71–0.83 in long and 0.55–0.59 in wide (18–21 × 14–15 mm) — roughly the width of a US quarter.
How many eggs does a Eastern Phoebe lay?
2–6 eggs per clutch, usually one egg a day, with 1–2 per season.
How long until Eastern Phoebe eggs hatch?
Incubation takes 15–16 days. The young then stay in the nest 16–20 days — about 31–36 days from incubation to leaving.
Can I move or touch a Eastern Phoebe 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: Eastern Phoebe 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.