When I first started raising backyard chickens, I didn’t think much about egg color. I was more focused on having healthy, fresh eggs for my family and raising friendly, docile chickens. But before long, I found myself dreaming of a colorful egg basket! I had no idea how many different colors of eggs chickens can lay.
Today, let’s dive into the types of chickens that lay green eggs. And don’t worry, only the shell is green—no green eggs on the inside! Haha!
Birds That Lay Green Eggs – An Overview of the Most Common Species
Green eggs – we’ve all heard about them in children’s books and cartoons. But did you know that certain bird species actually lay eggs with green shells? While less common than white or brown eggs, green eggs can be found amongst various types of birds around the world. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable green egg layers and examine why their eggs take on this peculiar coloration
So which birds lay green eggs? Here is an overview of the most common green-egg laying species
Chickens
Perhaps the most well-known green egg layer is the chicken. Certain chicken breeds like the Araucana, Ameraucana, and Easter Egger are specially bred to produce blue or green egg shells. The pigments biliverdin and oocyanin are responsible for the colorful eggshells. These chicken breeds originate from Chile and were introduced to Europe and North America in the early 20th century. Their eggs gained popularity as a novelty item.
Ducks
Some wild duck species also lay greenish eggs including the Mallard, Common Eider, and Wood Duck. Female Mallards typically lay pale green eggs while Eiders produce olive green eggs with brown speckles. Again, biliverdin deposits in the eggshell cause the green tint. These pigments help camouflage the eggs in the ducks’ grassy marsh nest sites.
CassowariesCassowaries are large, flightless birds that inhabit New Guinea and Australia. They lay distinctive bright green eggs that blend into the rainforest understory. Female Southern Cassowaries lay 3-6 glossy emerald eggs in a clutch. After mating, the male takes over incubating the eggs and caring for the chicks. Northern Cassowaries display similar breeding behavior and also have green eggs.
Herons
Certain heron species produce greenish-blue eggs including the Green Heron, Purple Heron, and Little Egret. Green Herons build platform nests in trees near water and lay 3-6 pale bluish eggs. Both parents share incubation duties. Purple Herons nest in reed beds, laying 4-6 greenish eggs. Little Egrets build stick nests and lay clutches of 3-5 blue-green eggs.
Shorebirds
A number of shorebirds and waders lay olive-green eggs speckled with brown. These include plovers like the Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, and Eurasian Curlew. Their cryptic eggs help camouflage the ground nests. The female often leaves shortly after laying and the male incubates the clutch. Upon hatching, the chicks feed themselves and follow their parents.
Mockingbirds
The Northern Mockingbird sometimes lays greenish-blue and speckled eggs. However, their eggs can also be gray or brown. So green isn’t guaranteed with mockingbirds. The females build an open cup nest and incubate the 3-5 eggs alone. Both parents feed the fledglings. Mockingbirds are common backyard birds across much of North America.
Other Species
Additional green egg layers include the Emu, Quail, Pheasant, Parrot species like Macaws and Amazons, Neotropical birds like Toucans, Kingfishers, and Cotingas, and Australian birds like the Rainbow Bee-eater and Dollarbird. As you can see, green eggs have evolved in diverse bird groups, especially those dwelling in dense forests where green pigments help provide camouflage.
Why Are Some Eggs Green?
So what causes some birds to lay green eggs while others have white or brown eggs? Pigments within the eggshell determine the color. Biliverdin and oocyanin are the main pigments responsible for blue and green egg coloration. Higher levels of biliverdin lead to bluer eggs while more oocyanin results in green shells. These pigments get deposited in layers during eggshell formation in the female’s oviduct.
Some possible benefits of colored eggs include:
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Camouflage – In open nests, green eggs are less visible to predators. Brown eggs camouflage well in cavities and dirt. White eggs blend in snow.
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Structural strength – Pigments may help strengthen the eggshell.
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Filtering solar radiation – Darker eggshells may protect the developing chick from excessive UV radiation.
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Mate attraction – Unusual egg colors may attract a mating partner.
However, the exact evolutionary reason behind egg color remains debated. Ultimately, it comes down to a bird’s genetics whether it lays colored or plain white eggs. But next time you come across a green egg, you’ll know it comes from a special bird! From chickens to cassowaries, green egg layers have evolved fascinating breeding strategies and behaviors.
Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers: More Green Egg Layers
In addition to Araucanas, there are also other breeds that can lay green eggs, such as Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers. Easter Eggers are hybrids that can lay eggs in various shades, including blue and green. Olive Eggers are a cross between a chicken with blue eggs and a chicken with dark brown eggs, resulting in olive-colored eggs.
I have owned both Easter Eggers and Olive Eggers, and the eggs these girls lay are stunning! They are super sweet and friendly birds as well, and they love their Strong Animals snacks! I think everyone’s favorite Easter Egger around here is Chocolate. She is an avid Happy Tract and Golden Graze lover and will get herself almost into the bag (see below) if I leave it sitting on the ground! Haha!
Araucana Chickens: The Famous Green Egg Layers
The most famous breed known for laying green eggs is the Araucana chicken. Native to South America, specifically Chile, Araucanas are prized for their colorful eggs. The gene that causes their eggs to be blue or green originated from a retrovirus that became part of their DNA many years ago. Isn’t that cool?
Araucana chickens are medium-sized with cute little tufts of feathers sticking out from their cheeks. They are excellent layers, producing around 250 eggs per year. Their eggs can range in color from pale blue to green, making them a beautiful addition to any egg basket.
Birds That Lay Green Eggs | What Bird Lays Green Eggs? | Kids Educational Video
FAQ
What lays a green egg?
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This breed is well-known for laying distinctive blue-green eggs, with shades ranging from light blue to olive green.
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Similar to Araucana, Ameraucanas also lay blue-green eggs, and are often considered a variation of the Araucana breed.
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This is a hybrid breed that can lay eggs in various colors, including blue, green, rose, or even brown.
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As the name suggests, Olive Eggers lay olive-colored eggs, and are a cross between a breed that lays blue eggs (such as an Ameraucana) and one that lays dark brown eggs (such as a Marans).
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This is a designer breed that lays sage-green eggs.
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This is a multi-generational, multi-breed “project” that aims to produce a beautiful, easygoing, extremely hardy bird, and a prolific egg layer.
What bird lays emerald eggs?
Emu eggs range in color from a vibrant light teal to an almost-black emerald hue. Sometimes they are solid colored, more often they are flecked with darker marks. It is commonly accepted that the green color is for camouflage, as wild emus prefer to lay their eggs in grass.
What bird lays small blue green eggs?
Northern Mockingbird. The Northern Mockingbird, famed for its mimicking ability, is found throughout North America. These birds have gray plumage and are known for their diverse and complex songs. Mockingbirds lay blue-green eggs in a cup-shaped nest built in shrubs or trees.