Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird
I don't like Brown-headed Cowbirds very much. They will sit at a bird feeder and eat every last bit of food and leave nothing for other bird species. Even worse, they are brood parasitic - they lay eggs in the nests of other bird species, and let those adult birds feed their young, often at the expense of the actual young of the foster parents.
I went on a late morning hike here in Old Trail (Crozet), but didn't see very many birds. I was able, however, to capture some interesting avian behavior. I first saw a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird
The Cowbird flew a few feet and landed in the mulch surrounding a tree. Within a few seconds, a female Eastern Bluebird landed and gave the Cowbird a fairly large bug to eat. Or perhaps the Cowbird found the bug, and the Bluebird flew in to help. It all happened so quickly that I'm not sure which bird had the bug first.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
But the bug was too big for the Cowbird, and the Bluebird took it to pound it down to a smaller size that the Cowbird could manage.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
But it was still too much for the Cowbird, so the Bluebird took it again.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
The Bluebird gave the bug back to the Cowbird to try again.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
No success. Try again.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
At this point, the Cowbird flew a few feet into the grass, and the Bluebird followed.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
The Cowbird was still having a difficult go of it, so the Bluebird stepped in, once again.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Off went the Cowbird with the Bluebird in pursuit.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Once again, the Bluebird tried to help junior.
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird and adult female Eastern Bluebird
They two birds then moved into deeper grass, and I don't know how this story ended. But it is amazing what parents have to do for their young - for all species.!