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Birders

fasttense

(17,301 posts)

8. How to get someone else to raise your chick, the cowbird has it down pat.

Reply to KegCreekDem (Original post)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 01:18 PM

Aug 2012

One of the reasons birds choose certain sized holes (like in bird houses and trees) to build their nests is to keep out the cowbirds that are too big to fit in. This finch doesn't know it's not her baby. I would think it would be easier to evolve to recognize cowbird eggs and chicks with sight. But evolution takes a crooked path.

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13 replies

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Highlight:

The ugly step-child [View all] KegCreekDem Aug 2012 OP

I love birds that are of that "awkward" age... NYC_SKP Aug 2012 #1

Good shots. MuseRider Aug 2012 #2

Sigh. Curmudgeoness Aug 2012 #3

Damn Republican birds! postulater Aug 2012 #4

+1 TexasProgresive Aug 2012 #5

Well, they sorta are, as republican policies increase habitat for cowbirds. MH1 Oct 2012 #12

Well stated....... KoKo Aug 2012 #6

Wonderful photos.. KoKo Aug 2012 #7

How to get someone else to raise your chick, the cowbird has it down pat. fasttense Aug 2012 #8

As the cowbird followed migrating animals,... Kaleva Nov 2012 #13

Before I looked at your photos, I was having a very hard time picturing a finch 1monster Aug 2012 #9

Funny :) KegCreekDem Aug 2012 #10

They originated in Africa and migrated to South America (flew the Atlantic) 1monster Aug 2012 #11