Images of all the breeding birds of Alberta, as well as migrant species, are included in the virtual exhibit at
http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/vexhibit/eggs/vexalta/exmen1.htm, along with photos of the adult (where available), distribution, and the natural regions in Alberta in which the bird breeds. Here, one example is given for each terrestrial order found in Alberta.
Images of all the breeding birds of Alberta, as well as migrant species, are included in the virtual exhibit at
http://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/vexhibit/eggs/vexalta/exmen1.htm, along with photos of the adult (where available), distribution, and the natural regions in Alberta in which the bird breeds. Here, one example is given for each terrestrial order found in Alberta.
© 2006 Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN). All Rights Reserved.
Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus
Order & Family: Falconiformes, Falconidae
Description: Subelliptical to short subelliptical, smooth and non-glossy. Colour is buff with brown spots and blotches.
Clutch Size: 4-5 eggs
Egg Size: 52 x 41 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Observed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland: Confirmed
Prairie Falcon, Falco mexicanus
Order & Family: Falconiformes, Falconidae
Description: Subelliptical to short subelliptical, smooth and non-glossy. Colour is buff with brown spots and blotches.
Clutch Size: 4-5 eggs
Egg Size: 52 x 41 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Observed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland: Confirmed
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg of the Prairie Falcon
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
Order & Family: Galliformes, Phasianidae
Description: Subelliptical to oval, smooth and moderately glossy. Colour is olive.
Clutch Size: 7-8 eggs
Egg Size: 55 x 38 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest:
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain:
Parkland:
Foothills:
Grassland: Confirmed
Sage Grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus
Order & Family: Galliformes, Phasianidae
Description: Subelliptical to oval, smooth and moderately glossy. Colour is olive.
Clutch Size: 7-8 eggs
Egg Size: 55 x 38 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest:
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain:
Parkland:
Foothills:
Grassland: Confirmed
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg of the Sage Grouse
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Order & Family: Columbiformes, Columbidae
Description: Elliptical to long elliptical, smooth and glossy. Colour is white, unmarked.
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Egg Size: 28 x 22 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Probable
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills:
Grassland: Confirmed
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Order & Family: Columbiformes, Columbidae
Description: Elliptical to long elliptical, smooth and glossy. Colour is white, unmarked.
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Egg Size: 28 x 22 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Probable
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills:
Grassland: Confirmed
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg and adult of the Mourning Dove.
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Black-Billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Order & Family: Cuculiformes, Cuculidae
Description: Elliptical to subelliptical, smooth and non-glossy. Colour is blue-green.
Clutch Size: 2-3 eggs
Egg Size: 27 x 21 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain:
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills:
Grassland:
Black-Billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Order & Family: Cuculiformes, Cuculidae
Description: Elliptical to subelliptical, smooth and non-glossy. Colour is blue-green.
Clutch Size: 2-3 eggs
Egg Size: 27 x 21 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain:
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills:
Grassland:
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg and adult of the Black-billed Cuckoo
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia
Order & Family: Strigiformes, Strigidae
Description: Elliptical to spherical, smooth and glossy. Colour is white.
Clutch Size: 5-6 eggs
Egg Size: 31 x 26 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest:
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain:
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills:
Grassland: Confirmed
Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia
Order & Family: Strigiformes, Strigidae
Description: Elliptical to spherical, smooth and glossy. Colour is white.
Clutch Size: 5-6 eggs
Egg Size: 31 x 26 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest:
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain:
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills:
Grassland: Confirmed
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg and adult of the Burrowing Owl
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
Order & Family: Caprimulgiformes, Caprimulgidae
Description: Long subelliptical to elliptical, smooth and glossy. Colour is cream to white with gray, purplish-gray or olive-brown markings.
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Egg Size: 30 x 22 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield: Confirmed
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland: Confirmed
Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor
Order & Family: Caprimulgiformes, Caprimulgidae
Description: Long subelliptical to elliptical, smooth and glossy. Colour is cream to white with gray, purplish-gray or olive-brown markings.
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Egg Size: 30 x 22 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield: Confirmed
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland: Confirmed
© 2009, The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN). All Rights Reserved.
The egg and adult of the Nighthawk
Royal Alberta Museum
Canadian Heritage Information Network
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
Order & Family: Apodiformes Trochilidae
Description: Cylindrical, smooth and non-glossy. Colour is white.
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Egg Size: 13 x 9 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Observed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland: Observed
Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus
Order & Family: Apodiformes Trochilidae
Description: Cylindrical, smooth and non-glossy. Colour is white.
Clutch Size: 2 eggs
Egg Size: 13 x 9 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Confirmed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Observed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland: Observed
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg and adult of the Rufous Hummingbird
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Order & Family: Piciformes, Picidae
Description: Subelliptical to oval, somewhat grainy and glossy. Colour is white.
Clutch Size: 4-5 eggs
Egg Size: 23 x 17 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest:
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland:
Red-naped Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus nuchalis
Order & Family: Piciformes, Picidae
Description: Subelliptical to oval, somewhat grainy and glossy. Colour is white.
Clutch Size: 4-5 eggs
Egg Size: 23 x 17 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest:
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Confirmed
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Confirmed
Grassland:
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg and adult of the Red-naped Sapsucker
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Order & Family: Passeriformes, Tyrannidae
Description: Subelliptical to short or long subelliptical, smooth and slightly glossy. Colour is cream to pink, boldly marked with brown, purple and gray.
Clutch Size: 4 eggs
Egg Size: 23 x 17 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Observed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Possible
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Possible
Grassland: Confirmed
Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Order & Family: Passeriformes, Tyrannidae
Description: Subelliptical to short or long subelliptical, smooth and slightly glossy. Colour is cream to pink, boldly marked with brown, purple and gray.
Clutch Size: 4 eggs
Egg Size: 23 x 17 mm
Breeding Status
Boreal Forest: Observed
Canadian Shield:
Rocky Mountain: Possible
Parkland: Confirmed
Foothills: Possible
Grassland: Confirmed
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
The egg and adult of the Western Kingbird
Photos by Graham Mitchell-Lawson and Kim Chapman.
The Royal Alberta Museum, E.T. Jones collection.
© 2006 Government of Alberta and © 1996-2006 Royal Alberta Museum.
Learning Objectives
The learner will:
-
Become familiar with the appearance, ecology, and taxonomic groupings of Canadian terrestrial bird species, with particular reference to Alberta
-
Recognize that appearance of eggs is specific to species
