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The Australian Megapode bird is known for laying large green eggs, a unique trait that sets them apart from other birds. The emu, a large, flightless bird native to Australia, also lays big green eggs. The green colour of these birds' eggs is caused by a pigment called biliverdin, which strengthens the eggshell and acts as camouflage, helping the eggs blend into their surroundings and evade predators. This adaptation is especially useful for birds that build their nests on the ground or in low shrubs, where the eggs can easily go unnoticed by predators.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the bird | Emu, Megapode |
| Colour of the eggs | Dark green, olive green, bluish-green |
| Shell texture | Thick and sturdy |
| Shell colour | Outer layer is green, the next layer is turquoise, and the inner layer is white |
| Size of the bird | 5 to 6 feet tall |
| Weight of the bird | Over 100 pounds |
| Lifespan | 20 years in the wild and about 35 in captivity |
| Speed | 30 to 40 miles per hour |
| Defence mechanism | Kicking, long sharp claws |
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What You'll Learn
The emu is the Australian bird that lays big green eggs
The emu is the Australian bird credited with laying big green eggs. Emus are flightless birds native to Australia, growing to heights of five to six feet tall and weighing over 100 pounds. They are known to run at speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour and are generally gentle birds, defending themselves primarily by kicking with their long, sharp claws.
The emu's eggs are notable for their thick shells, which consist of three layers of different colours: green on the outside, turquoise in the middle, and white on the inside. This multilayered structure not only provides protection for the developing embryo but also makes emu eggs particularly well-suited for carving and decorative purposes. The green colour of the eggs serves as a survival strategy, acting as camouflage that helps the eggs blend into their surroundings and avoid detection by predators.
In addition to emus, other birds known for laying green eggs include the Muscovy duck, cassowary, green heron, blue-winged teal, American robin, American coot, and common kiskadee. The Southern Cassowary, native to Australia, lays the largest eggs of any Australian bird species, measuring 138mm long and 95mm wide, and is a pale green colour.
The colour of bird eggs is determined by pigments, with green eggs attributed to the presence of biliverdin, a byproduct of the breakdown of red blood cells. This pigment is believed to have evolved as a protective measure, enhancing the survival of the species by providing camouflage for their eggs.
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Emu egg characteristics
Emus are flightless birds native to Australia. They are the tallest bird species native to Australia, growing up to 6 feet tall and weighing over 100 pounds. They are also the fastest running birds in Australia, reaching speeds of 30-40 miles per hour.
Emus lay very large, thick-shelled, green eggs. The shell is around 1 mm thick and is composed of three layers of different colours: the outer layer is green, the middle layer is turquoise, and the inner layer is white. The eggs are on average 13 cm by 9 cm and weigh between 450 and 650 grams. The average weight of an emu egg is 550 grams, though some sources give a higher average weight of 560 grams. Emu eggs are considered ideal for carving due to their thick shells and varied colours.
Emu eggs are typically laid in clutches of five to fifteen eggs. The male emu sits on the eggs and turns them for about eight weeks, without eating or drinking. When the eggs hatch, the male cares for the young. The female emu lays one egg every second or third day. The sperm from a mating is stored by the female and can suffice to fertilise about six eggs.
Emu eggs can sometimes be undersized, weighing under 400 grams, or oversized. They can also be soft-shelled, which usually means they are non-viable, or take on unusual shapes. These variations can be caused by factors such as nutrition, age, and environmental stressors.
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Why birds lay green eggs
The Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), a large flightless bird native to Australia, lays large pale green eggs. Emus, another type of flightless bird native to Australia, also lay green eggs. The outer layer of an emu egg is green, followed by a turquoise layer, and finally a white inner layer.
The colour of a bird's egg is determined by its biology and behaviour. Ground-nesting birds typically lay coloured or patterned eggs to avoid detection by predators. In contrast, tree-nesting birds usually lay blue or green eggs. The pigment that gives blue and green eggs their colour is called biliverdin, which is the same pigment that causes bruises in humans.
The shape of bird eggs can also vary depending on the species. For example, the Peregrine Falcon, which nests on cliff ledges in southeast Australia, lays eggs that are pointed at one end and rounded at the other. This shape prevents the eggs from rolling off the edge of the cliff if they are accidentally knocked or pushed.
Ornithologists have classified egg patterns and given each style a name, such as splashed, blotched, spotted, dotted, marbled, streaked, and scrawled. The variation in size, colour, and shape of bird eggs is part of what makes them so fascinating and reflects the diversity of Australia's birdlife.
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Megapode birds and their nesting habits
Megapodes, also known as incubator birds or mound-builders, are medium-to-large chicken-like birds with notably large feet. They inhabit a variety of forest types, from wet to dry, humid, swamp, gallery, and monsoon forests. They are found in lowland and highland regions in the Oriental and Australian regions east of Wallace's line.
Megapodes are unique in that they do not incubate their eggs with their body heat like other birds but instead bury them in mounds of decaying vegetation or in shallow pits or burrows warmed by the sun or geothermal activity. The male megapode attends to the mound, adding or removing litter to regulate the internal heat while the eggs develop. This nesting behaviour is thought to have evolved due to the presence of environmental heat sources, which saves the birds time and energy.
Upon hatching, megapode chicks dig themselves out from under the mound or burrow and are immediately able to fly, walk, run, and forage independently. They do not receive any parental care, but adult males do spend a prolonged period caring for the eggs and monitoring incubation temperatures.
Megapodes are mainly solitary birds and are generally brown or black in colour. They are of three kinds: scrub fowl, brush turkeys, and mallee fowl or lowan. The Moluccan megapode and Micronesian megapode are listed as endangered, while seven other species are listed as vulnerable.
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Other birds that lay green eggs
Emus are flightless birds native to Australia that lay green eggs. The outer layer of the egg is green, followed by a turquoise layer, and then a white inner layer. Emus are large birds that can grow to be five to six feet tall and weigh over 100 pounds.
- The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and the White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) lay pale blue-green eggs.
- The Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), native to Australia, lays pale green eggs.
- The Comb-crested Jacana (Irediparra gallinacea) lays eggs marked with fine black lines, which are shades of green.
- The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), found in southeast Australia, lays eggs that are pointed at one end and rounded at the other ("ovate"). These eggs are typically white but can also have a greenish tint.
- Several breeds of chickens, such as Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers, and Araucanas, can lay green eggs. These chickens are hybrids that can produce eggs in various shades, including blue and green.
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Frequently asked questions
The emu, a large, flightless bird native to Australia, lays big green eggs. Emu eggs have thick shells with three layers of different colours: green on the outside, turquoise in the middle, and white on the inside.
The green colour of emu eggs acts as camouflage, helping the eggs blend into their surroundings and avoid being found by predators.
Several other birds also lay green eggs, including the Southern Cassowary, Muscovy duck, green heron, blue-winged teal, American robin, American coot, and common kiskadee.
The colour of bird eggs can vary and is influenced by factors such as biology and behaviour and calcium levels. In addition to green, bird eggs in Australia can be white, blue, pink, cream, brown, or lavender.
