How to identify a bird by its nest only (1 Viewer)

[zippetydude]

I was out in Palm Springs, CA last weekend and I came across a nest. It looked like a hamburger bun with a hole in the side. I'll try to attach a pic or two. I didn't see a bird come or go, so I'm wondering if anyone can help me identify the bird by the nest alone. I have a superzoom camera, and the very close picture is from about 8 feet away, but I took it with a flash to try and see inside the nest. It looks like there might even be an inhabitant in there!

The nest was perhaps 8-10 inches across, maybe 5 inches high in the middle, and the hole was about 1.5 to 2 inches across.

Thanks in advance for any help. This forum is such a fun place to visit whenever I have a bird mystery on my hands!

 

[Tiraya]

I think verdin makes a nest like this. I'm quite sure its relatives do anyway.

 

[zippetydude]

Thanks Silverwolf. I kept looking on my own as well as posting, and I came across the Cactus Wren. Strange, but these two birds look nothing alike, yet they share the same general habitat and build virtually identical nests!

 

[David in NC]

I can't provide a link, but I know there is at least one book on bird nest IDs...