The bird is IN or ON the nest?

[cllamas]

I was checking my son's worksheet and came across this particular exercises about prepositions of location. I know that we use IN when something is inside or contained and ON when something is on the surface. I mean not covered. Am i right? But in this particular exercise, the bird was somewhat snuggled ON? IN? the surface of the nest.

I hope someone could enlighten me.

[Humble]

Welcome to the forum, Cllamas,
I'd use in.
Cheers

[BobK]

Welcome to the forum, Cllamas,
I'd use in.
Cheers

I agree with Humble in this instance; but there's a special case involving birds incubating eggs (keeping them warm, so that they'll hatch). So if there are unhatched eggs in it, the parent bird is ON the nest.

b

[Miner49'er]

Confusion

In that case wouldn't we say "The parent bird was on the eggs"

Like "we were on the fish" or "The Cornelia Mary was on the crab" (Deadliest Catch )

Edit: this are probably two bad examples I gave. They mean "They found the crab and are now occupied with it" sorry

[BobK]

Confusion

In that case wouldn't we say "The parent bird was on the eggs"

...

Yes. But I've heard people say 'on the nest' with the meaning 'in the nest and on the eggs'.

Your other example related to another meaning of on.

b

[Miner49'er]

Your other example related to another meaning of on.

Figured that one out already

Just jumped on it "Too fast too furious"

[cllamas]

Guys, I have attached the photo so everybody can have a clear picture of what I'm talking about.

Back to my question...

Thank you.

[curmudgeon]

The bird is on the nest, the eggs are in the nest.

[Casiopea]

Wow, that's a really tough call. The bird's feet could be either in the nest or on the rim of the nest. Hmm. Well, given we can't see the bird's feet, I'd have to side with the teacher on this one. "The bird's in the nest", at least its feet are.

[BobK]

I'd have said ON - maybe even 'perched on'. (This is a retraction of my earlier post, when I said in was more probable, but on was possible; in my view, the picture makes it one of those 'possible' cases.)

b