Meadowlarks, Blackbirds, Cowbirds and Orioles

Brown-headed Cowbirds are a fascinating—and controversial—species. They’re notorious brood parasites, evicting eggs from other birds’ nests and replacing them with their own. This gallery captures cowbirds alongside Red-winged Blackbirds, both photographed the same day at Jericho Park in Vancouver. The female blackbirds were in a frenzy at the cowbirds’ presence, while the male cowbirds carried on with their ritualistic courtship displays! (images 3 and 4 below).