Photos: Earth >> Asia >> India >> South >> Karnataka

Register

  << Previous Next >>

Warbler feeding a cuckoo chick


Warbler feeding a cuckoo chick
Photo Information
Copyright: Nagesh Vannur (nagesh) Silver Note Writer [C: 0 W: 0 N: 69] (362)
Genre: Landscapes
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2015-03-28
Categories: Birds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2015-03-29 8:04
Viewed: 693
Points: 6
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Warbler feeding a cuckoo chick

This happens not only among humans!

The cuckoo, is what is termed a brood parasite. The cuckoo doesn’t build its own nest. She will fly over to a reed warbler’s nest, after watching their behavior so she can time it just right, push one egg out and lay one of her own in its place. It usually hatches before the other eggs and systematically pushes them all out, where they fall to their death. If it hatches after the others, it will push the hatchlings out the same way. What’s strange is that the parent bird doesn’t seem to realize that this bird is not its young — even though it is three times as large as the bird feeding it!
tuslaw, Pitoncle has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2015-03-29 18:38]

Hello Nagesh,
What an unusual capture showing the tiny warbler feeding a chick of another species, an interesting as well as very educational image!! The young cuckoo is shown in super sharp focus while displaying much detail. Colors are natural and exposure produced nice soft lighting.
We have brood parasitic birds here in Ohio called Cowbirds, which do the same thing to the nests of other birds. When I was a very young boy I switched one egg of an American Robin and one of a Red-winged Blackbird. The Robin abandoned the nest, but the Red-winged Blackbird raised the chick as it's own. I'm still not sure why I decided to do this, I suppose I was just curious as to what would happen. This took place over fifty years ago, yet I still feel bad for the robin leaving her nest:(
Ron

Hello Naghesh
Fantastic moment You caught my Friend.
Sharp and clear picture. Wonderful natural colors.Excelĺent sharpness.Well done!TSF
Best wishes
J.Diogo

Bonjour Nages,
Très belle scène de la vie sauvage sous une lumière certainement difficile à exploiter.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF