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Birds--General/nesting bluebird

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Expert: - 7/19/2011


Question
bluebird nest has 2 eggs.  Mom has been sitting on them about a week.  Temperature is 98 today and will be 100 the next few days.  I have not seen her on the nest for the past 4-5 hours.  Do they not sit on the eggs when it is this hot?  Thank you for your reply.

Answer
Bluebirds, as do other songbirds, have a "brood patch" on their abdomen. This brood patch is an area of bare skin (the feathers fall out)full of blood vessels that apply heat to the eggs to incubate them. It is also a thermostat of sorts. The adult birds know exactly what temperature the eggs are and adjust their incubation accordingly. They may put more or less heat to the eggs from the brood patch, and, as you described, may just leave the eggs for a few hours if the outside temperature is warm.

Birds--General

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all questions about WILD birds - not caged, domestic or poultry. Can answer questions about identification, taxonomy, behavior, courtship, plumage, flight, or anything else.

Experience

Taught ornithology (the study of birds) at the university level for 30 years. Have written five books on birds, published 30 scientific articles, write a blog on birds, have the website www.ornithology.com, lectured to hundreds of groups on birds,and have traveled to 90 countries studying birds.

Organizations
A variety of ornithological and conservation organizations.

Publications
Real Simple Magazine, Enterprise-Record, and several ornithological and ecological journals.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology with emphasis in ornithology.

Awards and Honors
Professional Achievement Award, Jack Rawlins Chair of Environmental Literach.

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