Brown-headed cowbirds

January 3, 2016: A small flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds stopped by our feeders for a meal today ...although I have seen several males at our feeders, these all appear to be females

I am always conflicted about seeing them: They are native blackbirds, but they do place their eggs in other birds' nests for others to hatch and raise -- often at the expense of the foster parent's own young.

However, their wonderful song sounds like a beautiful gurgling rainstick to me ...I am always enthralled listening to them. Since they are here anyway, I just remind myself that they are only doing what they are programmed to do; I may as well just enjoy watching and listening to them!

[Maggiemae]

I thought only cuckoos did this! How interesting to learn about them!

[sally agnew]

I really enjoyed reading the narrative as I am not familiar with these birds, nice shot of them pottering around the seed :)

[Gayle Sears]

Thanks for the narrative. They sound like an interesting bird.

[Dinah Pinkston]

@maggiemae That's fascinating to hear that cuckoos do that also ...I'm glad to hear that cowbirds aren't the only ones!

[Maggiemae]

There is the saying - there is a cuckoo in the nest - which means what you think!

[Sue Cooper]

Nice shot and interesting information. I feel the same about our cuckoos. I love to hear them so I try not to think about the way they lay their eggs in other birds nests.