Blue jays may be attractive, but they are also very aggresive towards other birds.
Many birds are attractive and enjoyable to watch in your garden or at the park. You may be surprised to learn that some birds destroy the carefully built nests of rival birds. Some birds employ what appears to be clever reasoning behind destroying the nest of another bird, while others tear apart nests for no apparent reason.
Retaliation
The brown-headed cowbird is a common North American bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. This practice is done in an effort to get another bird to raise its young. The cowbird does not abandon her chicks completely, however. If the female cowbird sees that her eggs have been destroyed or thrown out of the nest, she retaliates by tearing the nest apart.
Bullying and Mimicry
Cuckoos also use a "bullying" approach to egg laying, much like the method used by the brown-headed cowbird. Cuckoo hatchlings, however, also employ color mimicry to increase their chances of survival. Once hatched, the baby cuckoo's skin actually changes to match that of the host parent's true hatchlings. This color mimicry is used to fool the bird. As soon as the bird's true eggs hatch, the cuckoo promptly ejects them from the nest.
Territorialism
Blue jays, known for their characteristic bright blue and lavender feathers, are found throughout most of the eastern and central United States. These birds lay their eggs in their own nests and raise their own young, but they tend to destroy other bird's nests due to their territorial nature. They are also aggressive and confront other birds over a source of food.
Aggression
The house sparrow, sometimes also called the English sparrow, is actually a finch that was introduced to the United States in the 1800s. House sparrows are very aggressive towards other birds, although there is no apparent reason behind their behavior. House sparrows may even kill the owners of a nest, then tear apart the nest and build a new one on the same site.
Related posts
It is illegal to disturb resident birds by moving their nests.Birding, also known as birdwatching, is a recreational activity that involves the observation and identification of common and rare bi...
Pendulous nestBird nests come in many different shapes and sizes. Though many birds build nests on top of tree branches or on ledges, other species attach their nests to walls or build them in a h...
Flamingos use only mud to make a mound-shaped nest.Some birds are skilled builders, with the ability to construct their nest using mud as a primary resource. While some will build their nest entir...
Swallows are territorial mud nesting birds that prefer to nest at the same site each year.Birds such as cliff swallows, barn swallows and the black-billed magpie build mud nests to lay their eggs....
Zebra finches are small birds native to the Australian grasslands. Zebra finches make delightful pets, and you can house them in either indoor or outdoor aviaries. Adult males are typically more c...
