what is the only pennsylvania bird that practices brood parasitism?

Question

This is a question from my bio project. I couldn't come up with the answer.

Answer 1

You need to investigate the "cowbird". They are famous for laying their eggs in the nests of other birds instead of building their own. Their chicks usually become the dominate member of the brood being raised and the unsuspecting "parent" bird often gives preferential treatment to this hoggish standout in the nest.

Here is a Cornell University website that has a description and picture of the cowbird. The link will take you directly to the cowbird information:

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Brown-headed_Cowbird.html

A Yahoo search for "cowbird" will provide many more websites to explore.

Good luck with your project.

Answer 2

Well I don't know for sure if it is the only one I looked on line and found that the brown headed cowbird does in fact practice brood parasitism in Pennsylvania. Scientists have a theory that they did not come from Pennsylvania though since the other birds have not yet adapted a defense against this. They are mainly in the farmlands and where the forests have been broken up but are found statewide now. They plague over 220 species of birds but mainly the warblers, vireos, flycatchers, finches, thrushes and sparrows in the northeast. I hope this is A) correct and B) satisfactory since it is in fact my first answer enjoy :)

Answer 3

probably the only bird anywhere that practices brood parasitism, the cuckoo. Cuckoo's (spelling might be off) lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and push one of theirs out. Then the chick hatches earlier than the other ones and pushes the other eggs out and monopolizes the parents feeding time. Life just isn't fair sometimes is it?

Answer 4

It's the cowbird. Don't know the scientific name.