Birds have learned to adapt to any environment and build a nest anywhere that fits their needs. Each species has their own unique nesting habits, but many are incredible architects, able to construct intricate nests.
But how do birds do this and how is this skill learned? A bird’s ability to use its environment to create a home with just their beaks has long been a source of fascination. Let’s see how they do it.
Why Do Birds Build Nests?
The primary reason birds build nests is to create somewhere safe for them to lay and incubate their eggs. They often build these nests high off the ground to protect against predators, but nests do serve other purposes.
Birds can protect against harsh weather conditions and also helps to regulate temperature, ensuring that the eggs or chicks will remain warm enough to fully develop. In some instances, nests can also be built as a safe haven during breeding seasons.
How Do Birds Choose a Nesting Site?
A bird will instinctively consider several factors when choosing where to create a nest. Safety from predators is one of the main considerations but they will also think about proximity to food sources and exposure to climate conditions.
Trees and shrubs have long been the most well-known spot for bird nests. They can be safely hidden from predators and are the preferred choice for many songbirds. Cliffs and rock ledges are used by larger birds such as eagles and falcons as they are inaccessible to predators.
Others can make their nests in the ground, using their surroundings as camouflage instead of relying on height. This can be for a few reasons such as it’s easier to build a nest, there aren’t as many local predators, or easier access to food. Of course, flightless birds don’t have much choice but to do this.
Birds aren’t set in their ways as they are happy to use man-made structures for their nests. The likes of bridges, gutters, building ledges, and barns can give them the height and protection they need while also a pre-made base for their nest.
What Materials Do Birds Use?
The answer to this is: anything they can find. But there are, of course, some commonly used materials. Twigs and sticks are the most obvious, with smaller birds also using grass and leaves as they are easier to carry. Other birds can even use spider silk and plant fibers to make flexible yet strong structures.
There are also a few species that swallow mud or use saliva as a form of glue to construct a sturdier nest. Feathers and fur as used to line the inside of a nest to make it warmer and softer for safely incubating eggs.
Birds are quite resourceful and in urban areas they can make use of human-made materials, including paper, plastic, and string. As long as it will help the nest and can be carried, birds will pick up anything they can.
How Do Birds Build Their Nests?
The way birds will make nests differs from one species to the next. For the most commonly seen nest, this is first made after finding a suitable spot and gathering materials. It will then start by weaving the outer ring.
This is first done by arranging larger sticks into a rough circular shape. They will often weave these sticks or tuck them in together. Some species will then reinforce this by using mud, saliva, spider silk, or anything similar they can find.
As the nest grows, they’ll then use smaller twigs and plant fibers pushed into the gaps with their beaks to make them woven together. The more they do this, the sturdier it becomes. The bird can also use its body to press the nest into shape.
Finally, the nest will then be insulated. This can be done with fur or feathers, but other natural materials can be used, such as moss. After some final adjustments, the nest will then be ready for the eggs.
Different Types of Bird Nests
What we described there is the classic cup nest, but there are many other types. Platform nests are simpler and usually built by large birds on cliff edges. Cavity nests are made by the likes of woodpeckers, where they will simply drill a hole into the side of a tree.
Dome and pendant nests are much more intricate and only have a small entrance hole. These usually are made from grass and it’s easier to manipulate. For example, weaverbirds start off their nest by being able to make a knot out of grass using their breaks and feet.
Scrape nests are another simple solution as this is just a depression made into earth and covered over. Burrow nests are an extension of this, as the likes of a puffin will make a small underground tunnel. Finally, there are mound nests, where the eggs will be laid into movable materials such as vegetation, mud, or sand. The flamingo is one of many bird species to do this.
How Long Does It Take Birds to Build a Nest?
The time it takes to build a next understandably varies based on complexity and size. The cup nest that we looked at earlier is usually two to five days, but it can take some species longer than that.
Scrape nests can usually take a few hours, whereas a woodpecker will take about two weeks to make a suitably big home in a tree. Eagle’s nests can be huge and extremely impressive and can take months to build.
Do Birds Reuse Their Nests?
Again, this depends on the species, but the answer is mainly no. Most small birds don’t make sturdy enough nests for them to be used again. Also, these materials, especially the likes of grass, will degrade over time.
However, many larger birds, such as the aforementioned eagle, will make large nests using larger sticks. These can be used for several years at a time until they are rebuilt. If the nest is in good condition, there’s a chance that a bird will reuse it, but most prefer to build again.
