Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United States
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United States
  3. 2021
  4. May 28
  5. Robin's nest with a brown-headed cowbird egg
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Robin's nest with a brown-headed cowbird egg

May 28, 2021

Robin's nest with a brown-headed cowbird egg

© Edward Kinsman/Science Photo Librar

Freeloaders of the avian world

Ever felt like some folks are just born jerks? Birds can relate. Take for example the uninvited speckly-white visitor to this robin's nest: That smaller egg belongs to a baby cowbird whose mother sneakily laid it among the blue robin eggs when no one was looking. Once the baby birds all hatch, the cowbird will grow much faster and larger than its robin 'siblings,' soon becoming an only chick by muscling them right out of the nest. And if mama robin ejects the cowbird egg before it hatches, the cowbird mom may take notice and chuck the remaining robin eggs from the nest out of spite.

Don't direct all your righteous ire at the cowbird, though—plenty of critters get by on underhanded tactics (even if you don't count humans!). Check out today's quiz on some of the animal kingdom's other pesky parasites.

outdoor object aerie grass egg wasp's nest outdoor nest bird nest bird hay plant pile

Related Images

Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, ChileTorres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile
Leopard mother grooming her cub, Jao Reserve, BotswanaLeopard mother grooming her cub, Jao Reserve, Botswana
Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, NevadaDonkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern IrelandDunluce Castle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, BrazilStriated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Formal garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, FranceFormal garden at Château de Villandry, Loire Valley, France
Grove of redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, CaliforniaGrove of redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California
Joshua trees under the Milky Way, CaliforniaJoshua trees under the Milky Way, California

Today on Bing

Roussanou Monastery, Meteora, Thessaly, Greece

Roussanou Monastery, Meteora, Thessaly, Greece

May 28, 2024
Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Tegallalang terrace farms in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

May 28, 2023
Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia

Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Australia

May 28, 2022
The long plumes of a three-flowered avens as it goes to seed

The long plumes of a three-flowered avens as it goes to seed

May 28, 2020
Pollen-covered honey bee on a pumpkin flower

Pollen-covered honey bee on a pumpkin flower

May 28, 2019

Related Tags

grass outdoor sky landscape cloud plant animal water nature hillside grassy lush tree mountain bench lake wooden overlooking clouds highland
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.