silverhawk Loc: Born a West Virginian, Living in Virginia

The "Brown-Headed Cowbird"......post yours if you want..if you ever see one, look for a flock....they will devour you seed and come by the hundreds....just like "crackles"....... :mrgreen:

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-MALE


BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-MALE


BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-MALE


BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-FEMALE (IN THE RAIN)


BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-FEMALE (IN THE RAIN)


BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD-MALES


BROWN HEADED COWBIRD - MALE

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Silverhawk: Please don't feed these birds if you don't have to. They are nest parasites that are thought to be one of the leading causes of the decline in songbirds in the US. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of dozens of different songbirds leaving the surrogate parents to raise them. The songbird chicks hatch out before the host's own babies and are larger and outcompete them for food. Sometimes they have even ejected other eggs and/or chicks from the nest.

Cowbirds were limited to the great plains where they followed the bison herds and their nest parasitism was an adaptation that allowed them to continue with the herd and still reproduce. As we cleared trees from the land for agricultural purposes and killed off the bison the birds range expanded. Today they are in every one of the lower 48 states, Mexico and most of Canada.

Please don't encourage them..

birdpix Loc: South East Pennsylvania

Here is my offering:

silverhawk Loc: Born a West Virginian, Living in Virginia

Thanks for your enlightening comment......and, I definitely don't encourage them.......they just show up and seem to always be in the area......you'll see one and the next day they bring the flock......thanks, again..... :thumbup:

silverhawk Loc: Born a West Virginian, Living in Virginia

Couple more..... :mrgreen:

BROWN HEADED COWBIRD, MALE


BROWN HEADED COWBIRD, FEMALE