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Ground nest/eggs ID help?

compost_hugger_nancy

11 years ago

I flushed something off this nest in my woodlands. The tree is falling over and this nest is hidden at/under the base. It has 9 light creamy brown eggs but no mottling as I thought grouse eggs would have. Too many eggs for woodcock. Any one help with ID?

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Comments (5)

tmff
11 years ago
I am leaning toward a merganser (unsure which one), but it would be helpful to know your exact location and how close to water you are.
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
11 years ago
Egg shape and color combined with nest on the ground makes me think Ruffed Grouse but are those blue feathers?

Mottling may vary

tj
compost_hugger_nancy thanked tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
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compost_hugger_nancy
Original Author
11 years ago
tsugajunkie: I'm thinking Ruffed Grouse or Pine Grouse myself as the noise upon take off and size of the blur. Am going to read up more on the Grouse as I doubted my first thought due to the plain smooth color.

tmff: It was not that large and that tree was a sapling. I am NE lower Michigan, USA.

The whole woods is black peaty muck with water flowing under surface roots or just 1-3' as well as deeper springs coming to surface and seepage/running down hill filtering through two more properties to swamp on state land. I have seen and flushed, pine grouse, ruffed grouse, woodcock, turkey, partridges, snipes, a rare quail and of course bobwhites. The area sports wild berries galore such as raspberry, elderberry, currant, gooseberry, poison ivy, jack in pulpit, ferns, sage grasses, snowberry, june-berry, dogwood, speckled alder clumps, cedar cones, black spruce, tamarack, and other cone producers, etc.
User
11 years ago
I think you are right, a Ruffed grouse

How cool.

9 - 14 eggs. That's a lot of young 'uns to keep track of.
compost_hugger_nancy
Original Author
11 years ago
I sure hope no raccoons find her nest. Normally I'm flushing them from the elderberry section near the spring hole but my chickens scratch there more now. Guess she moved a little back where there was more root tangles.

She may not be done laying then. Will have to watch from a distance and be sure my chickens don't venture into the tangle area. Sure want her to be successful.

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