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Hello,
I put up a birdhouse with a camera inside. Bluebirds moved in and after the second egg was laid, another bird came and took one egg. The next morning the mom laid another egg and 20 minutes later that egg was also taken. The mom has come back and appears to be caring for the remaining egg, but I’m wondering what kind of bird this is that is stealing the eggs.
I’ll post the video, maybe someone can tell me what kind of bird it is and how to prevent it.
in the first theft, the bird pecked at the egg and then picked it up by pinching it or poking a hole in it. The second time, the bird opened its beak enough to put the egg in its beak.
Could the mom be moving the eggs?
Thanks for any help.jVB
It looks like a female Brown Headed Cowbird, and this is precisely what these birds do. Have you examined the remaining egg? If it was a cowbird, she would have laid her own egg for the Bluebird adults to raise.
Fred
Waleska, GA
NestboxBuilderThanks for your response.
I believe the remaining egg is the first bluebird egg that was laid. I will review the video to confirm. Would a wren guard help at all if it is a cowbird?How big is that entrance? She shouldn’t be able to get in a box with a 1.5″ diameter hole. If it’s bigger than that, make it measure 1.5″.
I don’t know if a wren guard would help or not but it’s worth a shot.
Gin
Atlanta, GAI agree….sure looks like a brow headed cowbird. Have you measured your hole? It’s very unusual for them to fit.
Tammy
Wow, quite a video! When that cowbird went out of the hole I noticed it had no problem and the hole, from what we can see, does look large. Hope you get the problem solved.
JVB,
Would you mind posting the details of how you set the camera up? I’d love to know all the details from soup to nuts and duplicate it myself.
Thanks
Scot
PA
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