Red-winged Blackbird and Scissortail Flycatcher Feeding Same Young

by Steve Creek on June 1, 2009 · 14 comments

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I would not have believed this if I had not seen it with my own eyes and I am glad I was able to photograph it.

The Female Re-winged Blackbird and the Scissortail Flycatcher are both feeding the same young. While the Blackbird was on the nest the Scissortail stood guard nearby, but they both took turns feeding.

Response from Roger Lederer at www.ornithology.com:

Well, this is unique. I have never seen or heard of anything like it and I just don’t have an explanation. This is one for the ornithological literature. If you didn’t have photos I would not have believed it.

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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Stephen Ingraham June 1, 2009 at 8:49 am

very strange! Never heard the like. Could you see if there were two species of chicks?

2 Steve Creek June 1, 2009 at 9:15 am

Stephen, I was unable to get that close but sure wanted to know. I will keep an eye on them as they get older.

3 judi king June 1, 2009 at 5:31 pm

Hey Steve Totally Awesome!!! Have never seen any pics like these, hope you will be able to get more of this unusual happening.
You have a God given talent and He sends you wonderful opportunities to share and bring joy to the world thru your lens. I look forward to see what’s next. Judi

4 Moe June 2, 2009 at 8:34 am

Wow. That is amazing. Great observation!

5 Steve Creek June 2, 2009 at 10:04 am

Thanks Judi and Moe!

6 Jamie June 5, 2009 at 3:26 pm

There are other records in the literature of different species feeding nestlings. Something about the parental feeding stimuli being triggered to respond to begging young. If the legitimate parent birds don’t mind those are the best fed young in the neighborhood!

example: http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1676/08-085.1?cookieSet=1&journalCode=wils

7 Steve Creek June 5, 2009 at 3:38 pm

Thanks Jamie for the Link.

8 Canaduck June 5, 2009 at 8:52 pm

Remarkable!

9 OpposableChums June 5, 2009 at 11:28 pm

Truly amazing…

Like others (Steve included), I’d not have believed it if I hadn’t seen the photos.

Who knows, in this wired world, what other unbelievable natural phenomena await discovery and documentation?

I can’t wait to see what the chicks turn out to be.

Many thanks for posting, Steve.

10 Debbie Miller @HooootOwl July 9, 2010 at 10:27 am

Wow! This interaction is breathtaking to view…. beautifully captured.

11 Steven Corbett July 9, 2010 at 2:15 pm

This is absolutely fascinating. Superb photography and a rare opportunity make for one incredible shoot. Thanks for sharing!!

12 netster July 9, 2010 at 10:40 pm

Amazing! by the now the young would have been brown up.

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