Tailor birds use two leaves to create baby cradles, sewing them together with plant fibers or spider webs.
Indian large female hornbill birds lay their eggs in tree sap holes. At the entrance of these holes, walls are constructed with pieces of tree bark and mud. Male birds feed the mother bird through small cracks in these walls.
Hornbills keep their nests clean by pushing out leftover food through small gaps.
Hornbill nests are built on mounds of mud crafted with their beaks. These elevated mud nests protect their eggs and chicks from flooding and intense soil heat.
The Rufous Hornero builds its nest using 2,500 lumps of mud, resulting in a structure about the size of a large football.
Rufous Hornero nests have 3 cm thick walls and a thin entrance tunnel that protects the interior.
Horned coots of the Andes construct underwater rock mounds. They build their nests on the water’s surface on artificial islands made of rocks.
Baya weavers twist grasses together with their beaks to make durable oven-shaped nests with narrow entry tunnels that face downward, making it difficult for predators to enter.
Small birds, such as the penduline tit, construct pear-shaped hanging nests that are densely woven and incredibly strong, preventing predators from tearing them apart. These soft nests have been used as purses, money bags, or slippers in some parts of the world.
Australian brush turkeys build large mounds of leaves and soil up to 1.5 meters high and 4 meters wide. Their eggs develop in the warmth of these massive manure piles. Male brush turkeys monitor the temperature of the mound with their beaks and adjust it by adding or removing nest material.
Bald eagle nests are enormous, measuring two and a half meters wide and three and a half meters deep—large enough to hide several individuals.
Hummingbirds build the smallest nests, which are only the size of a walnut.
Hammerkop birds construct massive nests up to two meters high, weighing up to 50 kg. They use materials ranging from sticks to bones and even plastic.
Hill pigeons build their nests with small balls of clay, about 12 inches in size.
Nightjars do not construct nests but instead lay their eggs on the ground.
Black-necked eagles build sturdy nests in tall trees, about a meter wide. Male eagles collect nesting materials while female eagles construct the nests.
The ringed plover lays its eggs in shallow depressions formed in gravel by streams. The eggshell’s outer color blends with the gravel, providing camouflage to protect the nest.
Hummingbirds and nectar-drinking birds cover their nests with spider webs for added strength and concealment.
Rufous-breasted castle builders create dumbbell-shaped nests with two chambers connected by a tube. One chamber is used exclusively for rearing chicks, while the other is designed to deceive predators.
Short-crested turquoise birds are remarkably skilled diggers, creating burrows 1.5 meters deep for their nests in just five days.
European bee-eater birds construct underground nests to keep them cool. When the surface temperature reaches 50°C, the nest temperature remains a comfortable 25°C.