Ever wondered how long it takes for a bird to lay its eggs, once they have been formed? It typically takes 20–60 minutes for birds to lay an egg, though there are exceptions says Mike Toms.
Geese and turkeys take significantly longer, while many nest parasites are able to lay incredibly quickly.
Cuckoos average just 10 seconds and they can also delay the laying process for an hour or more, which enables them to pick exactly the right moment to fly down onto a host nest.
Hosts are more likely to reject a cuckoo egg if they have spotted the bird nearby, so there is a selective advantage for cuckoos to lay quickly.
Of course developing and laying the eggs is just half the job. The eggs then have to be looked after till hatching.
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