https://www.chewy.com/education/bird/general/the-bird-egg-inside-out
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Chewy editorial team explains that all bird eggs share 4 basic components: the yolk, the germinal disc, the albumen (egg white), and the shell with its membranes.
The yolk, rich in fat and protein, supplies nutrition to the embryo, while the germinal disc contains the genetic material.
The albumen provides additional protein and water, serving as a cushion and lubricant during hatching.
The shell, composed of the cuticle, testa, and mammillary layer, protects the developing embryo and enables respiration through small pores.
Two membranes beneath the shell help regulate air exchange and form the air cell at the blunt end of the egg.
Bird eggs differ among species in terms of size, shell thickness, shape, and color.
Egg size correlates with the size of the yolk and the species of the bird, while larger eggs generally have thicker shells. However, some exceptions exist, such as larger parrots that lay thin shelled eggs.
Shapes vary from spherical to elliptical depending on the bird's flight and nesting behavior.
While parrot eggs are uniformly white, other birds produce eggs in various colors, likely influenced by nesting location and the need for camouflage.
