Brown-headed Cowbird

Another summer bird for my backyard is a member of the blackbird family, Brown-headed Cowbird.  Last summer I first saw a female and could not figure out who it was.  After a while, I noticed a male bird with her, then I finally figured out they are called Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Here are Mr. and Mrs. Cowbird.  

During the winter months, they were gone to the coast or a warmer southern area.  This month I found this couple returned to this area and checking on food in the backyard.

They look like the last year's pair, don't they?

 

Their favorite weeds are dandelions.  Also they like to eat the seeds of many other garden weeds in addition to insects such as grasshoppers and other pests.  

They have one unique, but troublesome characteristic. When laying an egg, she does it at someone else's nest so that the nest owner ends up raising the Cowbird's chick. Sometimes even a smaller bird ends up raising a larger Cowbird.  So if you ever see a young Cowbird being fed by a small mother, you will know why.  

My veggie patch is slowly getting crowded with the young plants of volunteer potatoes, Chinese peas, tomato, green pepper, Japanese eggplant, green beans, etc.   Blueberry bushes are getting berries on.  Lavender bush is getting new stems.  Real summer is almost here.

Blueberries