Winged Villains: 7 Flying Evils That Hijack Nests Of Other Birds

Zee Media Bureau
Sep 10, 2024

European Starling

These aggressive birds often take over the nests of woodpeckers, bluebirds, and other cavity-nesting birds by driving them out and claiming the nest for themselves. (Pic: Freepik)

House Sparrow

Known for their adaptability, house sparrows frequently evict other birds like swallows, bluebirds, and chickadees from their nests and take over. (Pic: Freepik)

Brown-headed Cowbird

A brood parasite, the cowbird doesn't take over nests directly but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, forcing them to raise its chicks.

Common Myna

These birds are notorious for evicting other birds from their nests, especially in areas where they've been introduced, such as Australia and the U.S. (Pic: Freepik)

Great Horned Owl

Instead of building its own nest, this powerful predator often takes over the abandoned nests of hawks, crows, or squirrels. (Pic: Freepik)

American Kestrel

This small falcon sometimes appropriates old nests made by woodpeckers or other cavity-nesting birds, especially when they don’t have time to build their own. (Pic: Freepik)

European Cuckoo

Similar to the cowbird, the European cuckoo practices brood parasitism, laying its eggs in other birds’ nests and forcing the host bird to raise its chicks. (Pic: British Ornithologists' Union)

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