Chipping Sparrow & Cowbird Baby in Concord Township OH, 2007
Jeff Maass
6/16/2007
jmaass@k8nd.com
Cowbirds don't build nests of their own - they
lay their eggs in the nests of other bird species, and let them "adopt"
their eggs! The host species will raise the cowbirds, often to the exclusion
of their own. Over 200 species of birds are know to raise cowbird young!
I caught these photos of a Chipping Sparrow
raising her Cowbird "offspring", who is already twice her size! The baby was
making the unmistakable "Feed Me" sound until she placed a husked sunflower
seed into it's mouth. Repeat. Mom flew off a couple of times, leaving the
baby on his own. He would peck and find some of his own seeds, but would run
after whatever other kind of bird was nearby and squeal "Feed Me!" at them
(they ignored him). Mom always came back after a short rest break. |