Dark-eyed Junco feeding Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater californicus)

Up to six juvenile Dark-eyed Juncos were visiting our yard. Most pick up their own food, but not this big baby cowbird which demanded to be fed even while standing in a pile of seed. Young cowbirds are unable to digest seed and usually fail to survive when fed a seed diet while in the nest. However, after fledging they seem to tolerate it. Wolf (1987) found that cowbirds do not appear to cause a significant reduction in nesting success of parasitized Dark-eyed Juncos once the babies hatch.