Nest

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

For other uses, see Nest (disambiguation).

A basket style nest

A nest is place of refuge built to hold an animal's eggs and/or provide a place to raise their offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building. Sometimes available human made materials such as string, plastic, cloth, hair, paper, etc. may be used as well.

Generally each species has a distinctive style of nest. Nests can be found in many different habitats.

Nests are built primarily by birds, but also by mammals, fish, insects and reptiles.

They may have some or all of the following zones: attachment; outer decorative layer; structural layer; lining.

Some birds will build nests in trees, some (such as vultures, eagles, and many seabirds like Kittiwakes) will build them on rocky ledges, and others nest on the ground or in burrows.

There are eight mutually exclusive nest shapes:

Above ground
- cup nest
- dome
- dome and tube
- plate
On the ground
- bed
- scrape
- mound
Below ground
- burrow

1 Names of nests
2 Gallery
3 References
4 See also

[edit] Names of nests

An eagle's nest is called an eyrie.
A squirrel's nest is called a drey.
A hare's nest is called a form.
A pheasant's nest is called a nide.
A wasps' nest is called a vespiary.

[edit] Gallery

Single egg in the nest of an American Robin.	Nest in grass	Crows' nests	3 Great Horned Owl chicks in their nest.
The inside of a bird's nest	Redwings typically make ground nests.	Chicks in a nest	Mud nests made by swallows.
Female Bald Eagle on nest with egg	A nest in a lamp.	A bird building a basket nest.	A nest containing eggs