One of the most interesting topics discussed in my Ornithology class was about the “con artists” found in nature… Brood ...

One of the most interesting topics discussed in my Ornithology class was about the “con artists” found in nature… Brood ...

Some birds use brood parasitism. They lay eggs in other species' nests. Indigobirds trick finches. Common Cuckoos mimic ...

Many species of birds get reputations of various sorts. One species that gets a bad rap, through no fault of its own, is the brown-headed cowbird. The female cowbird lays its eggs in the nests of ...

Every spring I get reports from astonished readers describing a small bird feeding a much larger, obviously begging chick. Can you explain this, readers ask. The answer is “brood parasitism.” ...

Many consider cowbirds to be a nuisance. Setting up backyard bird feeders or a birdbath are simple and easy ways to enjoy birdwatching in your own yard while supporting local bird populations. That ...

The observation of three brown-headed cowbirds a few days ago were the first we've ever seen in our yard. The range of these blackbird relatives has been expanding throughout North America this ...

Scientists are trying to better understand how some baby birds are given up for adoption. To be more precise, some birds give up their eggs, leaving them for others to raise. Scientists who study this ...

Since the 1960s, biologists have made fake eggs for some studies of bird behavior. But Mark Hauber of Hunter College in New York says this kind of scientific handicraft is not exactly his forte. "With ...