Song Sparrow feeding Cowbird?

Konrad___far_north

17 years ago

Do I see right??

Konrad

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

lisa11310
17 years ago
Cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds nests so yup this Sparrow thinks it's her baby. I hope her other babies made it and didnt starve or get tossed from the nest.
bbcathy
17 years ago
Yes Konrad. Lisa is right and you are seeing right.
Cathy
Related Discussions
Best way to attract nesting Song sparrows in suburb garden?
Q
Comments (4)
I think the problem might be that song sparrows (at least on my property) seem to like the same type of shrub that house sparrows like. In my experience, the song sparrows like trees and deciduous shrubs as opposed to evergreens. They definitely like less tidy spaces.......but then so do house sparrows! Wish I could help you more. Good luck. P.S. Do you feed the birds? I've learned to never have millet in any birdseed I put out, since they like it so much. Actually, I quit feeding the birds because of a coon problem, and I have lots less house sparrows around.....so you might consider stopping birdfeeding for awhile.
...See More
whay did i see a blackbird feeding a baby sparrow?
Q
Comments (11)
well, it was deffinately a blackbird and the little bird resembled a baby house sparrow exactly. the little bird was brown, nothing like a starling it was way too small and the blackbird was diffinately a blackbird!! i knw what starlings look like- we have flocks of them quite often at my house!! i have blackbirds and sparrows in my garden at home to, and the ones in town looked the same. im not sure what type of blackbird, it was a normal garden one?! is there such thing as a cowbird in england, because iv never heard of one?
...See More
Song Sparrow Ward...Need ID Pls
Q
Comments (3)
I did have a Chipper nest of 3 Chippers and one Cowbird.....didn't notice till it was too late. All 4 babies fledged. I did notice that more Chippers than just the 2 parents were feeding these babies. Quite a few in fact. SO (not that I like these birds) but it does not necessarily mean all the other nestlings died.
...See More
Cowbirds
Q
Comments (31)
Thanks guys! Perhaps someone will see the cowbirds in context, their association with bison, and maybe realize they aren't just a nuisance preying on unsuspecting parent's to be. To be fair however, the brown headed cowbird is a "homegrown" introduced species. They have expanded their range outwards from the central plains significantly since the days of American westward expansion. While once confined to the prairies, this adaptive bird now occupies almost all of North America. Such is the case with a number of bird species, though. Before the 20th century blue jays were found pretty much exclusively east of the Mississippi, but now can be found all the way to the Rockies. Similarly, northern cardinals have begun to hopscotch their way west, following man-made urban forests and waterways that, prior to human mitigation, flooded too regularly for the forests that now grow along their banks to establish. They show up on eBird lists around Denver with increasing regularity. In a less fortunate instance this is one of the ways that it is suspected that barred owls have found their way to the Pacific Northwest where they out-compete and contribute to the decline of their cousins, spotted owls. It seems I'm going off on a tangent here... As far as ticks go, Claire, I can't imagine that bird would pass up a meal. However, I have never found ticks to be a big problem here on the Front Range, we are after all a relatively "bug-free" region when compared to hotter and more humid climates. Perhaps there is simply no one who has ever asked the question of whether cowbirds eat ticks. It would be interesting. I do know possums (another critter that has started to migrate into Colorado) have a voracious appetite for ticks, and folks who can stand to keep a flock of screaming guinea fowl report that they do a fantastic job as well. Catherine, I consider myself to be among the luckiest people on earth to have to opportunity to do what I do every day. My only complaint would be that I would prefer a more "rural" location than right outside downtown Denver, but, it sure beats sitting in an office all day ;).
...See More
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks Lisa & Cathy for confirming this, have seen Cowbird egg in a Sparrow nest but never seen the end product until now...LOL

Konrad
rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
Alot of that going around!

7-26-09, Tulip Poplar by deck, Song Sparrow feeding Cowbird chick
From late summer birds, 2009

Cowbirds are like the Mafia-if their songbird victims throw out the eggs or neglect the Cowbird nestlings, they return for revenge

http://faculty.ncwc.edu/mbrooks/pif/Fact%20Sheets/Cowbirds.htm
birdguy
17 years ago
Don't just observe this nightmare happening, do something about it. This is not a movie, this is real devastation, folks. Just because the songbirds can't beg us for help doesn't mean they are not living in horror as their babies are being slaughtered and they are forced to raise even more of these murderers.
When your grandchildren ask what happened to all the beautiful songvbirds, you telling them, "I didn't do anything", will not clear you of gross negligence.

"Everytime I zap a cowbird, a nestful of beautiful baby songbirds get their wings"
mrbass111
17 years ago
cool shots on a very interesting interaction.
chinamigarden
17 years ago
The interaction between songbirds and cowbirds have been going on for many years. For someone to suggest that the cowbirds will be the end of the songbirds, while suggesting that one should kill the cowbirds is not only an ignorant suggestion of an illegal activity. It is also myopic as to what causes declines in bird populations.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
17 years ago
Thank you all!
Rachel, you have a great picture!

Konrad
lisa11310
17 years ago
Konrad I have a pic of a cow baby in the nest. Im computer stupid if you e mail me I will send it to you lvlice@aol.com
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
17 years ago
Here is the picture from Lisa,....what a great shot!

Konrad
lisa11310
17 years ago
As you can see the cowbird baby is as innocent and dependant as the other babies. It has no idea that it has caused harm. By this point it is to late to do anything. Please keep an eye out for these eggs. This baby takes up 1/2 of the nest, there were 5 eggs when I first looked. This means 2 eggs were tossed. This is just a sad thing,luckily all 4 of these babies fledged, most nests are not so lucky. I was able to monitor this nest and knew all the babies were getting fed. Please dont let these eggs hatch. Nobody wants to harm a baby bird, I sure couldn't but seeing how these babies grow you may decide it's not so bad to render the egg "non vialable", there will be plenty of cowbird eggs in nests you cant see, I have a Cardinal with a cow baby now. They will survive, we just dont need so many of them. Thanks Konrad!
feather_z9_ncacoast
17 years ago
Yes, we have it here too, with the White-crowned Sparrows:

{{!gwi}} (July 19th)

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES How to Bring the Joy of Bluebirds to Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Attract these beautiful songbirds with nesting habitat and food sources, including berry-producing trees and shrubs

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES A Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning

By Alison Hodgson

Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family

Full Story

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Wild Birds Transform a Woman’s Garden and Life

By Mary Jo Bowling

How Sharon Sorenson created a wildlife haven and became the Bird Lady of Southern Indiana

Full Story

147

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

Full Story

FEEL-GOOD HOME What Really Makes Us Happy at Home? Find Out From a New Houzz Survey

By Mitchell Parker

Great design has a powerful impact on our happiness in our homes. So do good cooking smells, family conversations and, yes, big-screen TVs

Full Story

214

GARDENING FOR BIRDS Backyard Birds: Marvel at Chickadees This Winter

By Habitat Network

These North American natives flock to bird feeders and entertain with their complex birdcalls

Full Story

LIFE 6 Ways to Beat the Winter Blahs

By Alison Hodgson

Snow and dark days dampening your spirits? These ideas will have you looking on the bright side

Full Story

202

GARDENING GUIDES 7 Ecofriendly Gardening Ideas That Also Cut Chore Time

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Spend less time weeding, less money watering and more moments just sitting back and enjoying your healthy garden

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES What’s in a Name? See 6 Wildflowers That Aren’t ‘Weeds’ at All

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Dispel the stereotypes of weeds and try these wildlife-supporting native wildflowers in your garden

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Sambucus Nigra Caerulea for the Birds

By Debbie Ballentine

Blue elderberry is a favorite of birds and other wildlife in its native California

Full Story

Song Sparrow feeding Cowbird?

Comments (12)

lisa11310

bbcathy

Related Discussions

Konrad___far_north
Original Author

rachel_frome_ky

birdguy

mrbass111

chinamigarden

Konrad___far_north
Original Author

lisa11310

Konrad___far_north
Original Author

lisa11310

feather_z9_ncacoast

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Song Sparrow feeding Cowbird?

Comments (12)

Related Discussions

Konrad___far_northOriginal Author

Konrad___far_northOriginal Author

Konrad___far_northOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Konrad___far_north
Original Author

Konrad___far_north
Original Author

Konrad___far_north
Original Author