Participant Photos
upload and share photos
Photo Submission
Submitted By
Susan Simenc
Sagamore Hills, OH, United States
Description
Male Northern Cardinal feeding a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird (brood parasite), that was presumably laid in this cardinal’s nest by its mother, and raised by the cardinals as one of its own.
Category
Species
Foster Parenting
Just observed the same incident of the cardinals feeding a cow bird and I wondered what the heck was going on, it even mocks the same wing communication that the adults do. Thanks for the photo it cleared up a strange mystery.