One of the sweetest bird behavior to witness is when a young bird is being fed by a parent. We've had many young birds show up in our yard this summer, and I've been lucky enough to see quite a few of them begging and being fed.
But when the bird dad is as flashy as a male Northern Cardinal, the scene is one that just sticks in your mind. Here's a few images of a cardinal dad taking care of one of his young. Then check out the short video of the young bird being fed by dad and continuing to ask for more with a wing quiver and persistent begging call.
Christine, interesting observation, but in all likelihood you witnessed a cardinal feeding a cowbird. Cowbird mothers lay their eggs in other birds' nests, leaving the child rearing to the "adoptive" parents.
Here's a post showing a Chipping Sparrow feeding a young (but larger than the sparrow) cowbird. http://wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com/the_zen_birdfeeder/2013/07/a-lesson-in-acceptance-the-chipping-sparrow-and-the-cowbird.html
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | August 03, 2015 at 08:53 PM
Early this summer I witnessed a male cardinal feeding a young sparrow. The young sparrow feldged very early and was hopping more than flying around and preferred to stay on the ground. Any adult bird that was near it would beg for food. Then a male cardinal came by and I saw him feed the young sparrow twice. Very sweet.
Posted by: Christine | August 02, 2015 at 05:36 PM