Avian egg shape: Form, function, and evolution

Abstract

The influence of flying Although birds' eggs are generally ovoid in shape, there is considerable variation in the degree to which they are symmetrical, round, or bottom-heavy. Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain what has driven this variation, with many accepting life history or nesting explanations. Stoddard et al. looked at nearly 50,000 eggs from more than 1400 species from morphological, biophysical, and evolutionary perspectives and found little support for previous hypotheses (see the Perspective by Spottiswoode). Instead, their results suggest that selection for flight adaptations is most likely to be responsible for the variation. Science , this issue p. 1249 ; see also p. 1234