Why would a mother bird remove an egg from the nest?

Question

a sparrow and her mate are nesting in a potted plant outside our door. The mother is very tiny, so we were shocked to see she had laid seven eggs. It doesn't look all of those could even fit inside of her. Anyway, today when we peeked in the nest, she had rolled one of the eggs out of the nest into dirt. Is she trying to kill one of the eggs because there will be too many birds to feed? Should we return it to the nest? Should we try to raise it, if it's going to die anyway?

Answer 1

If you return it to the nest then if will have your scent on it, which might spread to the other eggs. Then not only will she reject it again but will reject all eggs with your scent on them.

There is most likely something wrong with the egg, which is why it was rejected. Animals do what is necessary for survival and tend not to extend wasted effort. Quit trying to place your own human emotional "reasoning" on their actions.

Answer 2

It is likely that she cannot care for that many young. However there are other possibilities. There are birds, for example Cow birds, that do not build their own nests. They wait until a bird has left its nest, remove some or all of the eggs, and lay their own eggs in it. The "host" bird then returns and incubates the egg and raises the young Cow Bird itself. The young Cow Birds are usually bigger than the host's own young and out compete them for food. Some birds have adapted to be able to recognize Cow Bird eggs and will remove them from the nest. (This is possible but my first response is probably the most likely reason).

You should not try to raise the egg on your own. First, it is almost impossible to do, and second, if you are in the US, it is not legal unless you have a rehabilitator's license.

Answer 3

Leave it alone....she knows what she is doing...could be she laid too many or this egg was infertile. Also, just to verify..birds will not abandon an egg due to human scent...birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell. However, a mammal can smell the human scent on a nest or eggs and may discover the nest this way.

Answer 4

I am not really sure as to why she did that, but, you may want to hatch it yourself if you feel sorry for it. If you try returning it to the nest they will abandon the nest because it will have the scent of humans in it. I heard this from my grandmother several times over the years. You might want to go to a local co-op and ask for an incubator and some instructions on hatching a baby bird. It takes patience and a little time, but you can hatch a bird. The one thing to remember that when the time comes you need to teach the bird how to eat and fly. Wild birds do not fare well in captivity. So you will have to let it go free if you want it to survive.

Answer 5

Because birds are smarter than humans. The mother knows she won't be able to feed them all, so she eliminates some so the others will be healthy. Just think, if birds had welfare, and could just keep pumping out babies that the rest of the bird population would have to take of because she cannot, just how covered you car would be right after you washed it?

Answer 6

Awwww..I think birds do that when they know instinctively something is wrong with that egg. I have seen a cats and dogs ignore or disgard the runt or sickely baby.

Answer 7

The egg is probably unfertalized and she got rid of it. Leave it alone and let nature take it's course.

Answer 8

her egg is not going to hatch because its either a bad egg or someone touched it

if someone touches it, the sparrow will not hatch or raise it cuz it senses the smell of someones skin

i know it sounds weird, but its true

Answer 9

Most likely she threw it out because the baby bird inside died.

Answer 10

it would most likely be because of threats to the nest such as fire, predators, and flooding. mostly things that would threaten the safty of the egg