While trying for another look at the Common Redpoll this morning, I was scanning the higherbranches above the many feeders hoping to get a shot of the bird on a natural perch.Though I was unsuccessful, and had to leave before the Redpoll was seen (just 15 minutesafter I left), I did snap a sequence of photos of these two birds hanging out together; and then to my amazement the female Red-winged Blackbird bent down, and seemed to feed the femaleBrown-headed cowbird! Besides not seeing either species for months, which is no surprise this time of year, I am at aloss as to what I witnessed this morning. Does anyone care to chime in with their thoughts?Is this a more common occurrence than I'm aware of outside of the breeding season? I know the rate of nest parasitism between the two species is high, could this be the cowbird'shost mom from one of last year's broods? Mystified, Ed SchneiderNashville, davidson Co, Tn
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