Table 2.
Egg size and eggshell thickness of bird species from 12 avian orders and 34 families.
| Order | Family | Common name | Scientific name | Egg N | Length (mm) | Width (mm) | Meridian N | Mean meridian thickness (µM) | Apex N | Mean apex thickness (µM) | Data source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accipitriformes | Accipitridae | Wedge-tailed eagle | Aquila audax | 3 | 70.4 | 63.0 | 3 | 629.58 | 3 | 562.35 | This study |
| Accipitriformes | Accipitridae | Little eagle | Hieraaetus morphnoides | 3 | 55.2 | 42.8 | 3 | 409.39 | 3 | 373.12 | This study |
| Accipitriformes | Pandionidae | Eastern osprey | Pandion haliaetus | 2 | 62.6 | 45.9 | 2 | 641.17 | 2 | 665.69 | This study |
| Anseriformes | Anatidae | Wood duck | Aix sponsa | 39 | 49.9 | 38.0 | 39 | 326.00 | 38 | 120.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Anseriformes | Anatidae | Mallard | Anas platyrhynchos | 2 | 56.7 | 40.9 | 2 | 339.00 | 2 | 337.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Caprimulgiformes | Apodidae | Australian swiftlet | Aerodramus terraereginae | 1 | 21.7 | 13.0 | 1 | 103.75 | 1 | 115.86 | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Burhinidae | Beach stone-curlew | Esacus magnirostris | 1 | 62.0 | 41.3 | 1 | 397.66 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Charadriidae | Western snowy plover | Charadrius nivosus nivosus | 35 | 30.7 | 22.3 | 34 | 165.00 | 27 | 165.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Charadriidae | Red-kneed dotterel | Erythrogonys cinctus | 1 | 29.7 | 23.0 | 1 | 184.34 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Charadriidae | Inland dotterel | Peltohyas australis | 1 | 37.9 | 26.7 | 1 | 235.66 | 1 | 201.11 | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | Black noddy | Anous minutus | 2 | 47.4 | 32.9 | 1 | 268.63 | 2 | 247.68 | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | Caspian tern | Hydroprogne caspia | 62 | 63.3 | 43.8 | 62 | 329.00 | 60 | 303.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | California gull | Larus californicus | 175 | 65.0 | 45.3 | 175 | 352.00 | 162 | 348.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | Bridled tern | Onychoprion anaethetus | 1 | 46.5 | 33.0 | 1 | 298.09 | 1 | 586.47 | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | Black skimmer | Rynchops niger | 11 | 47.8 | 34.6 | 11 | 247.00 | 11 | 226.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | Roseate tern | Sterna dougallii | 2 | 40.5 | 28.1 | 2 | 246.85 | 2 | 404.55 | This study |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | Forster's tern | Sterna forsteri | 1103 | 42.8 | 30.1 | 1085 | 203.00 | 946 | 194.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Laridae | California least tern | Sternula antillarum browni | 340 | 30.7 | 22.4 | 332 | 144.00 | 249 | 140.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Recurvirostridae | Black-necked stilt | Himantopus mexicanaus | 204 | 43.3 | 31.0 | 201 | 217.00 | 179 | 204.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Charadriiformes | Recurvirostridae | American avocet | Recurvirostra americana | 844 | 49.2 | 34.1 | 843 | 242.00 | 773 | 226.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Columbiformes | Columbidae | Superb fruit-dove | Ptilinopus superbus | 1 | 33.4 | 23.4 | 1 | 185.22 | 1 | 155.09 | This study |
| Falconiformes | Falconidae | Brown falcon | Falco berigora | 1 | 48.6 | 40.3 | 1 | 438.51 | 1 | 395.23 | This study |
| Falconiformes | Falconidae | Nankeen kestrel | Falco cenchroides | 1 | 39.4 | 28.2 | 1 | 290.03 | 1 | 249.01 | This study |
| Galliformes | Phasianidae | Stubble quail | Coturnix pectoralis | 1 | 31.2 | 22.5 | 1 | 286.75 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Galliformes | Phasianidae | King quail | Synoicus chinensis | 1 | 32.4 | 24.5 | 1 | 162.06 | 1 | 166.01 | This study |
| Galliformes | Phasianidae | Brown quail | Synoicus ypsilophorus | 1 | 29.8 | 24.5 | 1 | 325.67 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Gruiformes | Rallidae | Lewin's rail | Lewinia pectoralis | 2 | 35.6 | 26.8 | 2 | 207.31 | 2 | 174.61 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Acanthizidae | Yellow-rumped thornbill | Acanthiza chrysorrhoa † | 10 | 19.7 | 14.2 | 10 | 75.74 | 7 | 64.98 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Acanthizidae | Striated thornbill | Acanthiza lineata † | 2 | 26.2 | 18.7 | 2 | 66.01 | 1 | 69.91 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Acanthizidae | Brown thornbill | Acanthiza pusilla † | 7 | 22.9 | 16.6 | 6 | 69.18 | 5 | 64.406 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Acanthizidae | Buff-rumped thornbill | Acanthiza reguloides † | 2 | 17.3 | 13.1 | 2 | 70.76 | 2 | 78.03 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Acanthizidae | Southern whiteface | Aphelocephala leucopsis † | 2 | 21.4 | 15.0 | 2 | 101.52 | 1 | 81.77 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Acanthizidae | Weebill | Smicrornis brevirostris | 1 | 16.0 | 11.8 | 1 | 82.06 | 1 | 84.69 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Artamidae | White-breasted woodswallow | Artamus leucorynchus † | 2 | 18.5 | 13.6 | 2 | 118.48 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Campephagidae | Ground cuckoo-shrike | Coracina maxima | 1 | 31.7 | 24.0 | 1 | 221.91 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Campephagidae | Black-faced cuckoo-shrike | Coracina novaehollandiae | 1 | 32.5 | 23.8 | 1 | 160.94 | 1 | 178.38 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Campephagidae | Cicadabird | Edolisoma tenuirostre | 1 | 31.3 | 21.4 | 1 | 158.59 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Cisticolidae | Golden-headed cisticola | Cisticola exilis | 1 | 15.8 | 11.4 | 1 | 90.85 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Climacteridae | Brown treecreeper | Climacteris picumnus | 1 | 22.5 | 18.6 | 1 | 218.93 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Corcoracidae | White-winged chough | Corcorax melanorhamphos | 1 | 42.5 | 28.0 | 1 | 235.24 | 1 | 255.66 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Cracticidae | Australian magpie | Gymnorhina tibicen | 1 | 41.1 | 28.2 | 1 | 214.08 | 1 | 201.65 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Cuculidae | Horsfield’s bronze-cuckoo | Chalcites basalis* | 18 | 19.2 | 13.4 | 18 | 95.27 | 18 | 83.94 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Cuculidae | Shining bronze-cuckoo | Chalcites lucidus * | 24 | 18.7 | 13.1 | 21 | 77.68 | 23 | 78.27 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Cuculidae | Eastern/Pacific koel | Eudynamys orientalis* | 27 | 32.2 | 22.8 | 22 | 168.30 | 26 | 158.50 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Cuculidae | Pallid cuckoo | Heteroscenes pallidus* | 24 | 24.0 | 16.8 | 20 | 116.48 | 23 | 94.22 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Dicruridae | Spangled drongo | Dicrurus bracteatus | 2 | 28.6 | 21.4 | 2 | 151.89 | 2 | 297.32 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Maluridae | Superb fairy-wren | Malurus cyaneus† | 13 | 19.2 | 13.7 | 12 | 80.73 | 11 | 76.43 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Spiny-cheeked honeyeater | Acanthagenys rufogularis | 1 | 25.4 | 17.2 | 1 | 129.86 | 1 | 110.88 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Red wattlebird | Anthochaera carunculata† | 2 | 28.1 | 20.7 | 2 | 144.76 | 1 | 150.09 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Blue-faced honeyeater | Entomyzon cyanotis | 1 | 32.0 | 22.0 | 1 | 178.90 | 1 | 155.86 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | White-fronted chat | Epthianura albifrons† | 1 | 17.6 | 12.3 | 1 | 68.51 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Yellow-throated miner | Manorina flavigula† | 3 | 22.7 | 16.9 | 4 | 137.85 | 1 | 121.49 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Bell miner | Manorina melanophrys | 1 | 22.4 | 16.5 | 1 | 119.29 | 1 | 96.84 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Black-headed honeyeater | Melithreptus affinis† | 2 | 17.8 | 13.0 | 2 | 93.81 | 2 | 82.59 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | White-naped honeyeater | Melithreptus lunatus† | 2 | 17.8 | 13.0 | 2 | 94.16 | 2 | 76.36 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Strong-billed honeyeater | Melithreptus validirostris† | 2 | 19.8 | 15.3 | 2 | 115.78 | 2 | 115.87 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Helmeted friarbird | Philemon buceroides | 2 | 30.9 | 22.2 | 2 | 186.91 | 2 | 148.42 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Little friarbird | Philemon citreogularis† | 6 | 26.3 | 13.0 | 5 | 125.99 | 5 | 129.50 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Noisy friarbird | Philemon corniculatus† | 5 | 26.5 | 18.9 | 5 | 146.50 | 5 | 134.64 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | White-cheeked honeyeater | Phylidonyris nigra | 1 | 19.8 | 15.0 | 1 | 96.57 | 1 | 93.05 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Fuscous honeyeater | Ptilotula fusca† | 2 | 27.2 | 19.4 | 2 | 81.40 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Yellow-plumed honeyeater | Ptilotula ornata† | 1 | 16.8 | 11.9 | 1 | 101.94 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Meliphagidae | Grey-fronted honeyeater | Ptilotula plumula† | 1 | 16.2 | 12.7 | 1 | 87.87 | 1 | 67.63 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Monarchidae | Magpie-lark | Grallina cyanoleuca† | 7 | 23.5 | 17.0 | 7 | 144.43 | 7 | 126.44 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Oriolidae | Yellow oriole | Oriolus flavocinctus | 1 | 31.7 | 22.7 | 1 | 168.40 | 1 | 172.91 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Oriolidae | Australasian figbird | Sphecotheres vieilloti† | 6 | 23.5 | 17.3 | 6 | 153.66 | 6 | 150.47 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Pachycephalidae | Golden whistler | Pachycephala pectoralis | 1 | 24.5 | 17.9 | 1 | 116.93 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Petroicidae | Eastern yellow robin | Eopsaltria australis | 1 | 21.5 | 16.4 | 1 | 104.90 | 1 | 75.60 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Petroicidae | Grey-headed robin | Heteromyias cinereifrons | 2 | 26.0 | 18.6 | 2 | 118.63 | 2 | 132.61 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Petroicidae | Jacky winter | Microeca fascinans† | 1 | 19.2 | 14.1 | 1 | 103.70 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Petroicidae | Red-capped robin | Petroica goodenovii | 1 | 14.6 | 12.4 | 0 | NA | 1 | 74.23 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Pomatostomidae | Chestnut-crowned babbler | Pomatostomus ruficeps | 1 | 26.0 | 18.5 | 1 | 171.45 | 0 | NA | This study |
| Passeriformes | Ptilonorhynchidae | Spotted bowerbird | Chlamydera maculata | 2 | 27.4 | 19.7 | 1 | 216.63 | 2 | 157.81 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Rhipiduridae | Willie wagtail | Rhipidura leucophrys† | 2 | 24.6 | 16.8 | 2 | 98.18 | 2 | 93.00 | This study |
| Passeriformes | Turdidae | Eurasian blackbird | Turdus merula | 1 | 29.5 | 21.0 | 1 | 194.97 | 1 | 224.69 | This study |
| Pelecaniformes | Ardeidae | Great egret | Ardea alba | 3 | 59.7 | 40.5 | 3 | 296.00 | 3 | 303.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
| Psittaciformes | Psittaculidae | Scaly-breasted lorikeet | Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus | 1 | 25.8 | 20.9 | 1 | 184.32 | 1 | 151.62 | This study |
| Suliformes | Phalacrocoracidae | Double-crested cormorant | Phalacrocorax auritus albociliatus | 90 | 61.0 | 39.0 | 88 | 418.00 | 89 | 394.00 | Peterson et al.75 |
*Brood parasitic cuckoo species.
†Host species of the cuckoos in this study.