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Submitted By
Haley
Norfolk, VA, USA
Description
After just putting out our spring wreath, we found a couple birdies stealing from it.. a week later they made a nest.. then came the eggs!
Category
Species
Cowbird Egg In House Finch Nest
Cowbirds, I don’t like them. I appreciate all birds, but Cowbirds are SO invasive!
They are native.
I can TOTALLY relate!!!
I HATE Cowbirds, had two Song Sparrow nests and both of them had a Cowbird egg.
I hope those baby House Finches won’t die because of that greedy cowbird! Please keep us updated!! 🙂
Hi, Brown-headed Cowbird eggs typically do poorly in House Finch nests, as the cowbird nestlings need insects to survive, and House Finches are one of the few species that feeds a mostly vegetarian diet to their young.
I agree with both of you, they’re so lazy! They really have no purpose, and they really should’ve never been introduced into America. To make things worse, they’re protected which i don’t even get! Why is something so invasive and lazy protected?!
Hi Coco, Brown-headed Cowbirds are not invasive – they are a species that is native to North America. These birds historically followed bison herds great distances around the Great Plains. You can learn more about this species, tips on how to discourage them, and how some species have adapted to recognize cowbird eggs in their nests here.
I didn’t know that! Thank you!
Thank you! But i still don’t like them, and it will stay that way. But i respect people with other perspectives, because if no one had their own opinions this world would be very different.😉
I like all birds. Cowbirds, Vultures, Muscovy ducks, starlings, house sparrows.
Cowbirds aren’t lazy.
As a native species, the Brown-headed Cowbird is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and taking eggs is illegal. So any person who violates the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by murdering baby cowbirds is subject to a criminal penalty of up to $5,000 for each bird unlawfully taken, killed, harassed, or possessed; civil restitution fee for each bird unlawfully taken or possessed; and a license suspension or revocation
Cowbird chicks will not survive long in a finch nest due to the methods used to feed finch chicks doesn’t match anatomically to the cowbird chicks. Finches are crop feeding birds and cowbird chicks don’t have a crop. The regurgitated seed paste the parent uses to fill the crops of their own chicks eventually dries out and chokes the cowbird chick as it form a solid mass in the throat of the cowbird chick since they lack a crop.
The cowbird chick has died in the finch nest outside my front door. There are 2 alive finch chicks. What should I do?
Hi Renee, It’s best to be hands-off and let the nest continue without interference for now. Once the young birds fledge, you can dispose of the nest and deceased nestling.