Cardinal feeding a baby cow bird?

© Micky Cleveland

Cardinal feeding a baby cow bird?

Uploaded: June 10, 2019 05:18:07 | Entered: June 10, 2019 00:00:00

Description

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the Cardinal feeding a baby cow bird! The brown-headed cowbird is an obligate brood parasite: it lays its eggs in the nests of other small passerines (perching birds), particularly those that build cup-like nests. The brown-headed cowbird eggs have been documented in nests of at least 220 host species, including hummingbirds and raptors. The young cowbird is fed by the host parents at the expense of their own young. Brown-headed cowbird females can lay 36 eggs in a season. More than 140 different species of birds are known to have raised young cowbirds.

Exif: Camera: Canon Canon EOS 6D Mark II; Shutter Speed: 1/2000; Aperture: f/6.3; ISO: 3200; Orientation: 1; Date: 2019:06:10 07:15:41

Comments

Shirley D. Freeman June 10, 2019

Wow, Micky, that is incredible! The image as well as the story behind it. I know they cowbirds have visited our yard and bird feeder, but to my knowledge, haven't laid eggs in the nest box we have for the bluebirds. I think they are too large to fit into the whole on the nest box, so probably safe. <>< #1726136

Micky Cleveland level-classic June 10, 2019

Thanks Shirley, I am on my 2nd run of Bluebirds and for sure the cow-birds will not fit. It's good to hear from you, I am just getting back on my feet since Candy died last October. My granddaughter and great, great grandson cam to visit, he is a busy one year old. I have a tone of bluebirds flying back and forth. #11769210

Pat Abbott level-classic June 25, 2019

Great catch! #11769891

Dominick M. Dimacale level-addict August 01, 2019

Congratulations on your Win, Micky !!! #11772806

Micky Cleveland level-classic August 01, 2019

Thanks Pat & Dominick, its not often you see a Cardinal feeding a Cowbird or should I say raising one! #11772911

Jeff Robinson level-deluxe August 03, 2019

Congrats Micky on this Outstanding Win! #11773287

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.


 

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.


 

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

BetterPhoto.com Photo Contest SECOND PLACE Winner


Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Micky Cleveland.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer. Contact photographer via gallery
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.