This bird fools the experts as they are basically alone, and never with the adults. Never with the parents because the female lays it in other birds nest. Its a juvenile Brown-headed cowbird. There is just a touch of brown appearing on its head.
They look so innocent at that age. Who would suspect that they'd grow up and have the same habits as our cuckoos?
Very interesting. I've heard of cuckoos but never the cow bird. What interests me most is how this trait would have ever evolved in the first place. How animals evolve to fit their environments always fascinates me and some you can easily understand. This one though is REAL strange!
Just fascinates me that a cowbird raised by another bird would continue to know to lay and egg and leave it for another bird to raise. Also fascinates me that a mom cowbird & dad cowbird doesn't have the maternal/paternal gene or DNA or 'mom/dad-factor' to want to raise her/his own off-spring. WHY? WHY? WHY? (The need to know ) Beautiful picture though Kildale.
I have heard that before....maybe they just don't want to waste their time taking care of them...I am surprised the other birds would care for them. weird things happen in this world.
