Hi Birdwatchers!
Male birds have many duties. Finding and guarding territories and attracting mates with their fancy plumage and beautiful songs are of utmost importance, but many male birds step it up a notch and share parenting duties such as incubation, feeding and protecting young.
Males often scout for the best nesting sites, especially cavity nesters, who will excavate for days to get it just right before presenting his choice to a mate. Male House Wrens will fill every bird house in an area full of sticks, giving his mate several options and eliminating nest box competition. Nuthatch males help build their nests by bringing in bits of bark. Male Starlings are quite the decorators, adorning their nests with pretty flowers and feathers to entice females.
Canada Geese males will stand guard for weeks while the females sit on eggs, and will honk at and chase off intruders and predators.
Male Northern Cardinals and Eastern Bluebirds are very attentive dads. This time of year they are busy taking care of the young from the first brood who are scattered all over the yard, while also bringing food to their mates who are incubating their second clutch of the season.
Woodpecker dads are even more helpful. They share incubation duties with females, giving them a chance to feed and get out of the nest for some alone time. Red-headed Woodpeckers tend to take short turns on incubation duty, while Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers males take the whole night shift, while the females take the day shift.
We wish all the dads out there (whether human or bird) a very Happy Father's Day!!!
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Celebrate the special dad in your life with this 15% off coupon! Not valid on Brome brand feeders or prior purchases.
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