Timing of Events in Nesting Season*
Compiled by Darlene Betat using All About Birds by Cornell Lab of Ornithology
and Oregon Birds by David Marshall
Species | Nest:
Construction Timing/Type/Material |
Clutch
Size |
Incubation
Period |
Nesting
Period |
|
American Crow | LATE MAR to MID-APR
basket-nest of branches lined w/soft natural fibers lines w/pine needles, soft bark, weeds and fur |
4-8
eggs |
16-18 days | 20-40 days | |
American Goldfinch | JUN through JUL
cup nest in deciduous tree or shrub plant fibers, rootlets, plant down, spider silk |
2-7 eggs | 12-14 days | 11-14 days | |
American Robin | EARLY MAY to LATE AUG
cup nest in tree or on protected nesting shelf, etc. grasses, twigs, rootlets, etc., reinforced w/mud |
3-5 eggs | 12-14 days | 13 days | |
Anna’s Hummingbird | EARLY FEB to MID-JUN
cup nest on branch or other structure plant down, animal fur, spider webs, lichen, etc. |
2 eggs | 14-19 days | 20 days | |
Bewick’s Wren | MAR to APR
cup-nest in birdhouse, cavity, or protected crevice plant down, grasses & dried vegetation, twigs etc. |
3-6 eggs | 14 days | 14-17 days | |
Black-capped Chickadee | LATE MAR to EARLY APR
readily uses birdhouses, may excavate own cavity lined with fur, moss and fine dried vegetation |
1-13 eggs | 12-13 days | 16 days | |
Black-headed Grosbeak | LATE MAY to MID-JUN
bulky cup nest hidden in tree or shrub twigs, stems, rootlet, fine plant fibers, hair, etc |
2-5 eggs | 12-14 days | 10-14 days | |
Bushtit | FEB to MID-APR
sock-like nest with well-insulated base moss & plant down, animal fur, spider webs |
4-7 eggs | 12 days | 14 days | |
California Scrub-Jay | LATE FEB – LATE MAY
basket-like nest of branches w/inner cup nest use fine plant fibers (esp. coconut) and animal hair |
3-6 eggs | 17-19 days | 17-19 days | |
Chestnut-backed Chickadee | LATE MAR to MID-JUN
birdhouse or cavity (existing or own excavation) uses fur, moss, vegetation to build sponge-like pad |
4-10 eggs | 19 days | 18-21 days | |
Dark-eyed Junco | LATE APR to EARLY JUN
cup nest on ground/branch in hanging basket/old robin’s nest animal hair is preferred lining; grasses, pine needles |
3-5 eggs | 11-12 days | 11-13 days | |
Downy Woodpecker | LATE APR to LATE MAY
birdhouse or cavity (excavation can take 1-3 weeks) |
4-5 eggs | 12 days | 18-21 days | |
House Finch | MID-MARCH TO LATE JULY
cup nest in tree/hanging plant, on nesting shelf/structures fine weed/grass stems, leaves, plant/animal fibers |
2-6 eggs | 13-14 days | 12-19 days | |
Lesser Goldfinch | MID-APR to LATE JUN
cup nest in fork of branches of tree or shrub plant fibers, spider webs, fur, feathers, wool, etc. |
3-6 eggs | 12-13 days | 12-14 days | |
Northern Flicker | MID-APR to MID-MAY
Birdhouse or Cavity few wood shavings on bottom |
5-10 eggs | 11-13 days | 24-27 days | |
Pileated Woodpecker | LATE MAR to EARLY MAY
excavates a cavity excavation takes 3-6 weeks |
4 eggs | 15-18 days | 24-31 days | |
Pine Siskin | APR through JUL
cup nest on end of concealed, horizontal branch coarse/fine grasses/stems/rootlets, soft plant down |
3-4 eggs | 13 days | 15 days | |
Red-breasted Nuthatch | MID-APR to MID-JUN
cup nest in birdhouse or cavity uses fine strips of bark and wood shavings |
5-8 eggs | 12-13 days | 18-21 days | |
Song Sparrow | MID-APR to LATE MAY then
MID-JUN to EARLY JUL cup nest on ground or in shrub up to 5 ft off ground coarse and fine grass stems |
2-6 eggs | 12-15 days | 12-19 days | |
Spotted Towhee | MID-APR to LATE JUN
cup nest in depression on ground, concealed by log/plant/etc leaves/stems/bark strips, grass, pine needles, hair |
2-6 eggs | 12-13 days | 10-12 days | |
Steller’s Jay | LATE MAR to LATE JUN
bulky cup nest of stems/leaves/moss held w/mud cup lined with pine needles, rootlets or animal hair |
4-5 eggs | 16 days | 16 days | |
Tree Swallow | MAR through JUN
birdhouse or old woodpecker cavity lining: feathers, dried grasses |
5-7 eggs | 14 days | 16-24 days | |
Violet-green Swallow | APR through JUN
birdhouse or old woodpecker cavity lining: feathers, dried grasses and vegetation |
4-6 eggs | 15 days | 23 days | |
Western Screech-Owl | courtship beings JAN/FEB
uses old woodpecker cavity or appropriate nestbox; builds no nest; lays eggs on whatever is in cavity |
2-7 eggs | 26-34 days | 4 wks +? |