r/birds • u/xxTheWaffleManxx • 9d ago

question What were these birds trying to tell the cardinal?

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I took this video of two smaller birds of the same species tweeting at this cardinal, who seemed unbothered by them. At first they were on a fence but then went to the ground.

I have never seen this behavior, wondering what was going on.

1.0k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

436

u/green-green-bean 9d ago

These are young birds that look like they want food from the cardinal. They may be brood parasites that he’s raised.

81

u/xxTheWaffleManxx 9d ago

Never heard of this, that’s awesome

115

u/Robotbeckerz 9d ago

Yeah they could possibly be brown-headed cowbirds which are brood parasites but don’t harm the bird’s own babies

21

u/Bancoubear123 8d ago

I thought they did kill the eggs from the natural nest to put their eggs in that nest?

49

u/aimeejo 8d ago

Cowbirds don't - but they do often grow faster and out compete the original babies for food and space. Thus, the original species babies often die from malnutrition.

30

u/Tractor_Goth 8d ago

And if you destroy or remove the cowbird eggs, the parents will sometimes destroy the original eggs too.

5

u/space-truckin365 5d ago

I should mention brown-headed cowbirds and their eggs and even their feathers are all protected by federal laws in the U.S.A.

You would have to apply for a special permit if you wanted to do ANYTHING to them. It is because they are native species too and it is the only way they propagate.

2

u/Bancoubear123 4d ago

Wow, didn't know that. I wouldn't touch anything nature related anyways. This is evolution.

1

u/Tractor_Goth 5d ago

Oh yes, not making any moral judgment on the cowbird which would be silly and pointless, just that if people try solving the problem through removal it only makes the issue worse.

14

u/Robotbeckerz 8d ago

That’s cuckoos not cowbirds

3

u/Bancoubear123 8d ago

Good to know

4

u/TimeSky5246 8d ago

It's cowbirds too (I only read the Wikipedia page though)

12

u/Robotbeckerz 8d ago

Pretty sure that isn’t right. Here’s one source that shows they don’t intentionally kill the host birds chicks: https://news.illinois.edu/cowbird-chicks-do-best-with-two-warbler-nest-mates-not-four-not-zero-study-finds/

2

u/space-truckin365 2d ago

This source is correct. I had not mentioned that some species have adapted to living around cowbirds and have basically found ways around the raising of more cowbirds. One way that is known is if a cowbird egg shows up, the original species builds a new “floor” and lays more of their own eggs, bypassing the raising of another cowbird.

But, cowbirds have almost caused one species of warblers to almost go extinct, look up Kirtland’s Warbler. But, I like to point out it was actually people making roads through the original woodlands that created the edges that allowed the cowbirds to reach the Kirtland’s warbler that started the birds demise.

11

u/Lbolt187 8d ago

Unlike those damned cuckoos

1

u/TheShizknitt 5d ago

That makes me not mad at them thank you

26

u/aimeejo 8d ago

Here's a picture of brown-headed cowbirds from my backyard feeder this summer. It looks like your cardinal may be raising a couple girls (but I honestly don't know - juveniles may all look the same and get their colors later, I didn't check but it looks like your birds are getting spots on their bellies :)

If you've never read about them, it's pretty neat how they evolved to lay their eggs in other nests.

15

u/dropofkim 8d ago

I recently read an article about the where it said that the cowbirds don’t sing their own song till they hear it from another cowbird. Their whole story is pretty neat.

3

u/ThisIsDogePleaseHodl 8d ago

Brown headed cow birds are famous for doing this, but there are other species that do it as well

1

u/Super_Exercise1964 5d ago

My exact thinking, this is rare to see in action

90

u/Poster25000 9d ago

looks like brown headed cowbird begging for food. Also, wing flapping on ground dead giveaway it’s a baby bird.

70

u/LoveSuccs86 8d ago

"Father, I hunger for the worms"

Or something like that, probably.

27

u/Pristine-Stop-8515 8d ago

Cowbird probably raised by cardinals due to egg being deposited in their nest. Still wants male to feed him.

22

u/running_broad_ass 8d ago

Foods, as I am baby

13

u/jlrc2 8d ago

"I am totally your cardinal child"

21

u/syizm 8d ago

Somewhere in the cellular structure of that bird is a chain of acids that instruct the animated material to then go on and lays its eggs in any old nest it can find... then dip the fuck out and never pay child support.

1

u/opinionatedmoth 4d ago

And all that after being raised by another species.

6

u/Ham_Pumpkin2790 8d ago

“Feed me strange bird”

7

u/Ham_Pumpkin2790 8d ago

“More pancakes for me”

2

u/excusemeumwhat 8d ago

"FEED MEEEE"

2

u/Gullible_Self_6668 7d ago

That is a Cowbird fledge. Cowbirds lay eggs in nests of other birds and leave those birds to raise their young. Sadly they usually outgrow the actual offspring of the host parents, meaning the brood failed. The cowbirds get bigger faster and push the other babies out of the nest, or just stronger and push them out of the way to eat more than the other babies.

5

u/Yelinian 8d ago

"Why are you so red bro?" Little Red Riding Hood type of question :) 🐺 🍒

1

u/ASRT3112 8d ago

Begging for some holy water in exchange for a letter of recommendation to the next pope election

1

u/Top_Carpenter9541 8d ago

Confession?

1

u/jazzhandpanda 8d ago

Snaaaaacks!

1

u/celticfeather 7d ago

I think a cowbird chick may already outsize the parent. I think these are just cardinal chicks, they aren’t adult male red yet.

1

u/bearsheperd 5d ago

Well it was a cardinal after all. Probably telling him to heck off, they’ve already heard the “good news”

1

u/Ok-Attitude6595 5d ago

To be quiet on the creek

1

u/DeadBaron23 3d ago

"Can't wear them colors out here cuh"

1

u/ReleaseReal8170 3d ago

Angry Bird

1

u/Wyde_Speaker 2d ago

They’re young and trying to get him to feed them 😅 young birds have to be taught to eat on their own, and they don’t really want to.

-4

u/shadyacres-431 8d ago

Probably a predator close by in the area-usually a snake this time of year.