Do daddy birds help feed the babies?

Question

There appear to be two birds feeding the baby birds in our hanging basket on the front porch. I think they are finches---a male and a female. Does the male stay to help the female take care of the babies? We did see both birds build the nest together.

Answer 1

It depends on the species--I do think this is fairly common in finches. In fact, in many birds you get what is called "helpers at the nest" which is most often nestlings from the previous year helping raise their full or half siblings from this year. This is because they are not able to breed themselves yet, but it helps promote their genes by them helping those youngsters that are related to them. There is a great book on evolution and finches called "The beak of the finch" by Jonathan Weiner which you may want to get if you are interested in finches, or behavior and evolution in general.

Answer 2

With most birds both parents feed or guard the young. With some such as the bower birds and birds of paradise, only the female looks after the chicks. With birds such as emus it is the male that looks after the chicks from all the females he has mated with while with cuckoos, neither parent looks after the chick, they leave it to someone else.

Answer 3

It depends on the species. In some species they do.

There's actually one tropical bird where the female imprisons herself while she's taking care of the eggs, and the male brings her all her food.

Answer 4

Yes, many male birds will help rear the chicks.

Answer 5

Yes, this is quite common among birds of all types; male parental investment.

Answer 6

Hi!

Have a pleasant day!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finch

Answer 7

Sound arguments.

Answer 8

Really not sure about this one