grondnest

Grondnest is the Dutch term for a nest located on the ground, as opposed to elevating structures such as trees or cliffs. It describes a nesting strategy used by various animals, most notably birds, but also some insects. Ground nests are typically built directly on soil or in leaf litter and are adapted to open, terrestrial habitats.

In birds, grondnest is usually a shallow scrape or cup lined with sparse material. Eggs are often camouflaged with brownish or mottled patterns to blend with the substrate. Nest sites include grasslands, shores and dunes, wetlands, tundra, and agricultural margins. The degree of concealment, exposure to sun, and microtopography influence predation risk.

Reproduction involves incubation by one or both parents, with chicks tended after hatch. Some species perform distraction displays to distract predators from the nest. Ground nests are more vulnerable to trampling, mammals, corvids, and weather, making breeding success highly dependent on habitat stability and low disturbance.

The term grondnest can also apply to underground nests of certain insects, such as ground-nesting bees and wasps, which excavate burrows in soil. Protection and management of open, undisturbed ground habitats support a diversity of ground-nesting species and their ecological roles.