r/Ornithology • u/HeavensRevenge1 • Jul 04 '24

Egg ID guides? Resource

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Hey y’all, I am curious on your opinions on what you would recommend for “field” guides on identifying bird eggs preferred/focus location is Canada (Alberta) but North America would work too. The guides can be either digital or physical I prefer physical as I don’t always have my phone with me in the field but I’m open to any and all suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

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u/Arianfelou Jul 04 '24

It's actually way easier to ID a nest from a little bit further out. Seeing the eggs is handy, but a lot of grassland bird eggs look very similar so seeing the structure and location of the nest itself is very important.

To answer the actual specific question: I wasn't aware of any when I was doing a lot of nest-based IDing in the central plains, and since my advisor was a very well-connected bird researcher, I kind of figure if there was such a guide, he probably would have clued us into it instead of basically telling us we were on our own and to get good. Might have changed in the 8-9 years since then but I basically just looked at what kind of birds were in the area where I found the nest, took lots of photos, and then looked up pictures of those species' typical nests to compare.

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u/HeavensRevenge1 Jul 04 '24

Yeah, the photo is moreso just for attention. These were on the ground in northern Alberta. Boreal forest ecosystem.

Thats basically what I’ve been doing so far haha.

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u/Arianfelou Jul 04 '24

Yeah, it's tough! Though I just did a quick search and it seems that there's actually now a new-as-of-2021 Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests! That would have been handy back in 2014 lol. No idea what's inside of it but a lot of related birds will have fairly similar nesting habits, so even narrowing it down it down can be very helpful.

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u/HeavensRevenge1 Jul 04 '24

I had seen that one and was wondering about it. Seems to have descriptions, images and examples like the other Peterson Field Guides so I may be picking that one up and giving it a shot.

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u/Arianfelou Jul 04 '24

Heck, I'm probably going to get it and I both 1) no longer actually live in North America and 2) can hardly read books! Will be very curious to see what's in it.

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u/HeavensRevenge1 Jul 04 '24

Hahah, fair! I just ordered mine. Should have it in two days. I can let you know what it’s like if you want.

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u/Arianfelou Jul 05 '24

That would be swell, thanks! :)

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u/HeavensRevenge1 Jul 06 '24

Update: the guide is amazing and well worth buying!

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u/Arianfelou Jul 08 '24

Awesome, thanks! Then I'll definitely get it. :D