Red-winged Blackbird eggs
Pale blue-green or gray, with black, brown or purple streaks and scrawls, about 0.87–1.02 inches long — roughly the width of a US quarter. A Red-winged Blackbird lays 2–4 eggs, and they hatch after 11–13 days.
- Color
- Pale blue-green or gray, with black, brown or purple streaks and scrawls
- Length
- 0.87–1.02 in (22–26 mm)
- Width
- 0.63–0.75 in (16–19 mm)
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–4 eggs
- Incubation
- 11–13 days
- Broods per year
- 2–3 per season
- Nest
- Woven cup lashed to cattails or shrubs over water
How to recognise a Red-winged Blackbird egg
- Color: pale blue-green or gray, with black, brown or purple streaks and scrawls. Markings vary between females and are often heaviest around the wide end; the same female tends to lay a similar pattern every time.
- Size: 22–26 mm long by 16–19 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: woven cup lashed to cattails or shrubs over water. Red-winged blackbirds do not normally use nest boxes.
- Clutch: 2–4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Red-winged Blackbird | pale blue-green or gray, with black, brown or purple streaks and scrawls | 22–26 mm |
| Common Grackle | pale blue to pearl gray, with brown and black blotches and scrawls | 27–31 mm |
| American Kestrel | white to pale reddish, blotched with brown and gray | 34–37 mm |
| Killdeer | buff with heavy black and brown blotches | 34–39 mm |
| American Crow | bluish green to olive, blotched with brown and gray | 38–46 mm |
When red-winged blackbirds lay eggs, state by state
Laying starts earliest in Alabama (Mar) and latest in Alaska (May). Months are estimates from regional breeding data shifted for latitude.
From egg to fledgling
Eggs hatch after 11–13 days and the young leave 11–14 days later. See the full baby Red-winged Blackbird 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 Red-winged Blackbird eggs?
Pale blue-green or gray, with black, brown or purple streaks and scrawls.
How big is a Red-winged Blackbird egg?
About 0.87–1.02 in long and 0.63–0.75 in wide (22–26 × 16–19 mm) — roughly the width of a US quarter.
How many eggs does a Red-winged Blackbird lay?
2–4 eggs per clutch, usually one egg a day, with 2–3 per season.
How long until Red-winged Blackbird eggs hatch?
Incubation takes 11–13 days. The young then stay in the nest 11–14 days — about 22–27 days from incubation to leaving.
Can I move or touch a Red-winged Blackbird 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: Red-winged Blackbird 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.