Subject: Re: Cowbirds
Date: Sep 2 12:56:39 1997
From: Deb Beutler - dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu


At 00:49 29/8/97 -0400, you wrote:
(snip)
>Oropenolas, blackbirds, grackles and cowbirds are
>all members of the troupial family (icterids). Wonder if
>that factors in to ability/willingness to host cowbird
>young.
>
>Chris Maack
>Anchorage, AK
>CMaack at compuserve.com
>

I don't think being in the same taxomic family has anything to do with it.
Bullock's and Baltimore Orioles (also icterids) eject cowbird eggs on a
regular basis. Other icterids, such as grackles and the Yellow-headed
Blackbirds also eject cowbird eggs.
Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
Washington State Univerisity
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu