Name the six birds that lay eggs?

Many different kinds of animals lay eggs! It's a very common way for creatures to reproduce and bring new life into the world. People have been eating eggs from various animals for thousands of years.

When we talk about birds and reptiles, their eggs usually have a protective shell, a clear part called the "albumen" (that's the egg white), and a yolk called the "vitellus," all held inside thin layers.

Here are a few examples of birds that lay eggs:

• Pigeons
• Parrots
• Sparrows
• Ostriches (They lay the biggest eggs of any bird!)
• Kingfishers
• Crows
• Hummingbirds (They lay the smallest eggs of any bird!)

Animals that lay eggs are called "oviparous." This means the baby develops outside the mother's body, inside the egg. Most fish, amphibians, reptiles, and all birds fall into this group. Even dinosaurs and ancient flying reptiles called pterosaurs laid eggs!

Think about how a hen lays eggs. They'll keep laying eggs until they have a full "clutch" (which is usually about a dozen eggs). If you collect the eggs, they'll keep laying more because their instinct is to always have a full set ready to hatch.

It's not just birds! Insects, turtles, lizards, and other reptiles also lay eggs.

Interestingly, only two types of mammals lay eggs: the platypus and the echidna. All other mammals give birth to live young that have developed inside their mothers.

Summary

• Oviparous animals lay eggs, and the baby grows inside the egg outside the mother.
• Viviparous animals are those where the baby develops completely inside the mother's body and is born live.

So, the main difference is where the baby grows and how it enters the world!