Cardinals
Read More
Boomerang Kid
I'd seen the baby cowbird feeding itself for a week and thought it was finally independent. Then I saw this right outside my window. The "baby" is a little bigger than the foster parent now. Still demanding to be fed. Says a lot for the parental instincts and patience of cardinals.
Brown-headed Cowbird fledgling (Molothrus ater)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
molothrus aterbrown headed cowbirdcowbirdfledglingcowbird fledglingbrownheaded cowbirdbrownheaded cowbird fledglingbaby cowbirdbaby brownheaded cowbirdGarland TexasbabyCardinalis cardinaliscardinalnorthern cardinalredredbirdfoster parentmale northern cardinaleatingfeeding
Fay Stout
on August 4, 2017I find this to be absolutely amazing and did not realize that cowbirds lay their eggs in other birds' nests and then expect that bird to raise the chick until I posted a photo taken today of a male cardinal feeding an "unknown" bird/chick. Absolutely fascinating and thank you for sharing this photo!