Many birds build nests from twigs, grass, mud, and their own soft feathers.

The longer version

A nest is built from whatever is available and structural. Twigs interlock into a frame, grass and rootlets are woven through for tension, and mud or spider silk acts as a binder that hardens as it dries. Many species finish with a softer lining of feathers, fur or plant down.

Cup nests, domed nests, platforms and burrows each solve a different problem of support, drainage and concealment. Building takes days, and shape partly follows the site rather than being fixed by instinct alone; young birds build clumsier nests than experienced ones. A few species build nothing at all and lay on bare ground or a ledge.

Where this entry sits

Here you will find feathered trivia about flight, migration, nests, eggs, and the songs birds sing. Expect short surprising facts on penguins, owls, hummingbirds, and other familiar birds from gardens, forests, wetlands, and distant coastlines. The full list sits on the Birds page, where every entry is listed in order.