Cardinals raising finches (1 Viewer)

[rgcutting]

Hello -
I have a "funny" question. Has anyone ever heard of house finches "sharing" brood-raising duties with northern cardinals? We have been watching a very strange drama playing out on our veranda (finches nested in hanging plant). A pair of cardinals have been feeding and cleaning a brood of house finches as well as the finches. All four seem to get along and share "visitation", actual feeding and the male cardinal seems a bit obsessed with "cleaning" out the nest. At this posting, three of the four babies have fledged - 1 yesterday, 2 already today, 1 left. The four adults have been working vigorously at getting them out of the nest. The male cardinal takes the lead, then the "real" pair of parents come in, when they leave the female cardinal comes in and wants to mother the birds and appears to calm them all down. The Audubon told me that this is not unheard of but fairly rare.

Gail

 

[Lisa W]

Gail, first of all welcome to the forum! Think you will like it here. I have never heard of this happening, but I bet it was a very cool thing to see! I'm sure some of the experts will weigh in with their opinions and thoughts.

 

[KC Foggin]

Hello there and a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum :t:

I think what you are witnessing is a cardinal feeding a fledgling Cowbird. Cardinals seem to fall prey to the Cowbird quite easily. Juvie Cowbirds look nearly identical to the juvie finches

 

[John N]

Hi Gail, welcome to Birdforum.Enjoy yourself here.

 

[Mabel]

Lo Gail!

 

[masey77]

hi there & welcome to BF

 

[Dave B Smith]

Hello Gail,
And another welcome to the Birdforum. If you get a chance to photograph any of this family, it would certainly be interesting to see. Let us know how things go.

 

[Mark Bruce]

Hi Gail, a warm welcome and good to have you with us :t:!