The time it takes for bird eggs to hatch varies widely depending on the species, but generally falls within a range of 10 to 80 days.
- Small songbirds typically incubate their eggs for about 10 to 14 days before hatching. Examples include finches, sparrows, and robins, which often hatch within two weeks
- Medium-sized birds such as pigeons and doves usually have an incubation period of around 14 to 18 days
- Larger birds like woodpeckers, crows, and magpies may take between 17 to 30 days to hatch
- Waterfowl (ducks, geese, swans) often incubate eggs for 25 to 35 days, with some species leaving the nest shortly after hatching
- Birds of prey such as eagles, hawks, and owls have longer incubation periods, ranging from 30 to 60 days depending on the species
- Flightless birds like ostriches and emus have the longest incubation times, lasting from 40 up to 80 days or more
Some species have particularly short or long incubation times:
- The silvereye (white-eye) bird hatches in about 9 to 10 days, one of the shortest incubation periods
- The Northern Royal Albatross has one of the longest, around 79 to 80 days
The incubation period starts when the parent bird begins keeping the eggs warm, which can be immediately after the first egg is laid or after the entire clutch is complete. During incubation, parental birds maintain the eggs at optimal temperature and humidity for embryo development. After incubation, hatching begins with the chick breaking the shell using a specialized "egg tooth"
. In summary, most bird eggs hatch within 10 to 30 days, with smaller birds hatching faster and larger or flightless birds requiring longer periods. The exact duration depends on species, environmental conditions, and parental care
