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Who’s come home to roost? This strictly look-don’t-touch guide will help you crack it

Golden eagle

Typically laid in clutches of one to three,

the oldest chick wins gold, leaving the

youngest only a 20% chance of survival.

Chaffinch

The chaffinch should be chuffed with its

nest: creating a compact cup for eggs

from moss, feathers and spider webs.

Razorbill

Only ventures to British coasts to

breed, mating up to 80 times in 30

days and laying just one egg each year.

Osprey

Ospreys get better at breeding with

practice. Novices lay two beautifully

blotchy eggs – old hands lay up to four.

Guillemot
Considered one of the world’s most
beautiful eggs, not least for its shape which
helps prevent it rolling off cliffs.

Peregrine falcon

Adapted to city life, nesting in electricity

pylons and cathedrals. They lay three to

four eggs in late March/early April.

Gannet

Kids getting under your feet? Think of the

male and female gannet, who incubate their

egg with their webbed feet – for over 40 days.

Wood pigeon

Both parents share nest building,

incubating and feeding. And some coo-

cooing over the smooth, glossy eggs, too.

Puffin

Huff and puff but you won’t blow this

away – the male puffin digs a burrow for

the female to lay her one, solitary egg.

These beautiful eggs are the work of Abby Cook. You can see more of her illustration and buy prints at

AbbyCookIllustration.etsy.com or follow her on Instagram @abbyillustrates.

• IDENTIFIER •

BRITISH BIRD EGGS

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