I will have to look into the cowbirds! I seem to remember also learning about them, though I'm not sure if they're native or not to our area. But it seems as good a place to start as any.

I was a bit surprised that little Feanor (the adopted one because he's big and pushy!) perches so well at eleven days. But then, I don't really know anything at all about birds; my interest was always the very feminine subject of entomology. ;)