I don’t have any cows, but I do have a pair of brown-headed cowbirds – here’s the story of how they met…
I’ve been looking to settle down, I just need to find that special guy…
There’s a perch up there that looks promising – lots of action at that bar…
I’ll just take a seat here at the bar – do these feathers make my butt look big?
What’s that racket up there?
Ooooo – he’s cute!
Hey there, handsome….
And we lived happily ever after…
I have been told that cowbirds sneak their eggs into the nests of unsuspecting birds and move on, leaving the rearing of their young to strangers. So the story goes something like this…
Two young cowbirds fall in love, abandon their children to the foster care system, and fly off into the sunset partying and following cows until it’s time to do the whole thing again next year.
the eff stop 
cute post !!!
Thank you!
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Ce blog est extraordinaire, j’adore toutes vos photos ! Et si vous avez le temps, vu que je suis photographe débutant, passez jetez un coup d’oeil a mon blog –> http://photosarts.wordpress.com/
Merci! 🙂
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🙂 Oh those cowbirds are tramps, aren’t they 😉 Loved this. BTW, I was walking through the park the other evening, and noticed 5 different types of birds. Not that I knew what they were (except for the robins) which I can now identify, but still. I’m certain is totally because of you and your photos that I even notice now, so thank you 🙂
Awwww – well I try to do my part 🙂 I am amazed at the variety, even in my small neck of the woods. Those cowbirds have been fascinating – turns out there are three makes pursuing that female. They have been dancing and singing for her for the last two days and she is not impressed. I guess she’s playing hard to get…
Well, a girl’s got to choose wisely, after all. 😉
I thank you, I don’t see myself becoming a birder, but you’ve opened a new world to me.
Love the pictures, and the story ❤
Thank you!
Always so clever ~ lot the shots!
that would be “LOVE” the shots….esp that last one!!! 😉
LOL – thanks. I just replaced my bird lens – I’m loving the sharpness of the new one.
So tell me what your bird lens is!?!
I shoot micro 4/3 cameras so the numbers are half the typical number on a lens. I just got an Olympus 75-300 f4.8 – so it’s equivalent to a 150-600mm. I’t sharper than the old one and has a better fit. It’s completely silent too.
Well now this sounds very complicated to my brain. Sounds long, expensive, quiet….and is SHARP, for sure. 😉 Awesome
Actually – it’s not as long as the old one and cost a bit less. Newer tech 🙂
Fantastic! You must have so much patience to get these type of shots.
Thanks – it’s not really patience, more fascination. I shot these in about 2-3 minutes time.
You are very artistic
Thanks 🙂
This is such a lovely post, your pics are beautiful but the captions make it all so special. And I learn a lot from reading the comments, you have some very knowledgeable readers. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks – I am always surprised to learn new things about their behavior – so many interesting things.
It’s that the truth seems more bizarre than the fiction.
It is a pretty strange truth. They are almost predators.
Sounds like our cuckoos…
Interesting, I didn’t know that about cuckoos.
I have a pair that have come back each spring and hung out in my lilac bush for 3 years now. I assume it’s the same ones. Anyway, one of the coolest things about cowbirds is they are also like mocking birds, and copy many different bird calls. I thought I was going crazy hearing 10 different bird calls coming from the same bush!
You know, now that you mention it I have wondered where the other bird sounds are coming from. You learn something everyday 🙂
I think we have some of these birds about in the summer as well. Your post prompted a little Wikipedia action – I’d never heard of “parasitic brood” behavior before. Sometimes finding out more information is like discovering a favorite actress has had loads of plastic surgery – you just never look at them the same way again!
Interesting ! Have never heard of cow birds ….I am a bird lover though I didn’t like this particular behaviour of them.
And Michelle , I loved your comparison
I know what you mean, I was disheartened to learn about their behavior. So far I only have one pair.
Love the photos and the story. I’ve never heard of cowbirds, but they make a very nice couple. The female looks sort of like our House Sparrow.
Thanks Vicky, they are a larger bird, related to blackbirds.
And they expect government funding in the process, no doubt! (Oh, and the cowbird chicks often eat those of the foster parents. They are not nice guests.)
Great pictures!
I know, I was disheartened to see them, but they have probably been coming here for years. So far just a single pair. I read that sometimes they eat so much that the other chicks starve too.
It does all work out. But still.
Yeah – it does but I’m not crazy about it. I have no cows so I don’t know why they hang our here.
great pictures and love their love story!
Thanks Dianna!
You’re welcome!
Funny story and nice pictures! I love it 🙂
Thank you!