TIL why cowbirds do what they do. They evolved on the Great Plains in a symbiotic relationship with grazing animals, eating insects kicked up by the herds. When the herds moved, the cowbirds moved, leaving them no opportunity for nesting; so they “borrowed” other bird's nests.

As agriculture expanded and domestic herds spread across the Americas, the cowbirds followed, invading the nests of over 200 different birds, none of which had any defenses against the cowbird parasitism.

#BackyardBirds #Birds #BirdPhotography #Cowbird

TIL why cowbirds do what they do. They evolved on the Great Plains in a symbiotic relationship with grazing animals, eating insects kicked up by the herds. When the herds moved, the cowbirds moved, leaving them no opportunity for nesting; so they “borrowed” other bird's nests.

As agriculture expanded and domestic herds spread across the Americas, the cowbirds followed, invading the nests of over 200 different birds, none of which had any defenses against the cowbird parasitism.

#BackyardBirds #Birds #BirdPhotography #Cowbird

A brown-headed cowbird in the Ramble.

#brownheadedcowbird #cowbird #birds #birding #birdwatching #nature #wildlife #ramble #centralpark #nycparks #canonphotography #luminarneo

This week started with a spring-feel but ended with an icestorm. The backyard looked beautiful this morning, the lawn covered in frosted dew, and frozen, molty-looking layers over every branch. But there were hints of spring. #Grackles, #RedwingedBlackbirds and a #Cowbird came. All good stuff for the #greatbackyardbirdcount #birds #birding #birdsofMastodon #Ostdrossel

Teen birds can be confusing, especially for new birdwatchers. They have the coolest patterns and colorations going on, and it is fantastic that it is possible to see them even into fall. The calendar birds for August, September and October are teens. There’s a Rubythroated #Hummingbird, a juvenile Brownheaded #Cowbird, and a teen Northern #Cardinal.
#birds #birdsofMastodon #birdwatching #nature #Ostdrossel #birdphotography

I guess they're #finch nestlings and not evil #cowbird changelings