Birds That Make Nests On The Ground

18 MAR 2024

Credit: Google Images

Credit: Google Images

American Avocet

Male American avocets lead their females to scrape on the ground until they find a suitable nesting site. Both males and females work together to make a nest, usually on the islands or dikes. They place their nest on the ground and line the depression with vegetables, grass, feathers, pebbles, or other objects.

Credit: Google Images

Spotted Sandpiper

You will see spotted sandpipers on the shore of lakes, streams, rivers, either single or in pairs. Since their habitat is near water, they make a 2-3 inches deep nest within 100 yards of the water edge.

Credit: Google Images

Killdeer

To confuse predators, killdeer make several 3-3.5 inches scrapes closely. Then, they lay an egg on each scrape. You will see their nests in a slightly higher place than their habitat. During the ritual “scrape ceremony,” the mated pair choose a site for nesting.

Credit: Google Images

American Flamingo

American flamingo builds their volcano-shaped nest with mud. Both males and females mound the muds with their feet and bills. The height of the nest is 12 inches from the ground.

Credit: Google Images

Sandhill Crane

Sandhill cranes start making their territory before making nests. From mid-April to mid-May, they start making their nest in stagnant water with cattails, burr reeds, sedges, etc. They also make a cup-shaped hollow in their nest lined with twigs. 

Credit: Google Images

Virginia Rail

Likewise, killdeer, Virginia rail build many dummy nests but lay on a particular one. They make a nest with marshes, sedges, etc., on the floating mats of vegetation or just above the water surface level. You can reach the water just 1 inch below.

Credit: Google Images

Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter swans make their nest within 600 feet of the area from their shore. They tend to choose nesting places surrounded by water. Both males and females collect construction materials for the nest.

Credit: Google Images

American Black Duck

The female American black duck makes a 7-8 inches across and 1.5 inches deep basin. Female is also responsible for choosing nesting place, collecting materials for lining the hole.

Credit: Google Images

Canada Goose

Goose is an intelligent bird out there, so why not the Canada goose? They tend to make their nests in an area where they can observe their predators and everything, but obviously near water. The nest is cup-shaped, and the Canada goose makes with grass, leeches, moss, and other plant materials.

Credit: Google Images

California Quail

California quail shows egg-dumping (laying eggs on other’s nests) behavior because the clutches are larger than other birds. In a quail nest, you will find 28 eggs.