ML620547550

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Bronzed Cowbird juvenile, "harassing" (begging incessantly from) a female Northern Cardinal. As far as ID there was initially some uncertainty if a BHCO could be completely ruled out, but based on several features, I eventually was comfortable with it being a Bronzed (see more notes on the ID in species comments).

Observation details

Have been recently seeing at least one (an adult female type), and on at least one occasion, two Bronzed Cowbirds (which appeared to be a male and a female), visiting the backyard feeders. This afternoon there was a juvenile cowbird for a while on the tray feeder, begging aggressively from an adult female Northern Cardinal (NOCA). Presuming this to be a Bronzed (BROC) due to its relative size versus the NOCA (very similar perhaps in overall length but appearing to be heavier bodied than the NOCA), as well as the fact that the "parental victim" was a relatively large passerine (in this case, a NOCA). In addition, anatomical features, especially the relatively long and heavy bill (vs. Brown-headed Cowbird (BHCO)), and the relatively short tail, giving the bird a "front-heavy" look, were also more indicative of BROC. This appeared to be a very fresh juvenile, showing quite prominent, pale feather edgings on the back, scapulars, wing coverts (including the lesser, median and greater coverts), and on the remiges. The juvenile appeared to show a blackish mask effect, as well as seemed to have a few all-dark (blackish) feathers coming in on the sides of the breast. Otherwise, the underparts had a palish gray base color with an overlay of dense and extensive charcoal streaking and mottling. The scapular feathers, as well as most of the wing coverts and remiges, appeared to have blackish to very dark brownish feather centers, which with the crisp, pale, feather edgings all helped to create a strong, contrasty, "scaly", appearance. And that seems to be the "problem". This strong "scaliness" is something that is well known in juvenal-plumaged BHCO, but is said, and shown in BOTH Sibley's drawings and the "National Geographic Guide" as well, to be LESS scaly on the upperparts of BROC versus a BHCO. Nevertheless, this juvenile appears in all other ways to be a Bronzed.

Technical information

Model

DSC-RX10M4

ISO

800

Flash

Flash did not fire

Dimensions

2400 pixels x 1349 pixels

Original file size

438.14 KB