Birds That Destroy Other Bird Nests

Retaliation

• The brown-headed cowbird is a common North American bird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. This practice is done in an effort to get another bird to raise its young. The cowbird does not abandon her chicks completely, however. If the female cowbird sees that her eggs have been destroyed or thrown out of the nest, she retaliates by tearing the nest apart.

Bullying and Mimicry

• Cuckoos also use a "bullying" approach to egg laying, much like the method used by the brown-headed cowbird. Cuckoo hatchlings, however, also employ color mimicry to increase their chances of survival. Once hatched, the baby cuckoo's skin actually changes to match that of the host parent's true hatchlings. This color mimicry is used to fool the bird. As soon as the bird's true eggs hatch, the cuckoo promptly ejects them from the nest.

Territorialism

• Blue jays, known for their characteristic bright blue and lavender feathers, are found throughout most of the eastern and central United States. These birds lay their eggs in their own nests and raise their own young, but they tend to destroy other bird's nests due to their territorial nature. They are also aggressive and confront other birds over a source of food.

Aggression

• The house sparrow, sometimes also called the English sparrow, is actually a finch that was introduced to the United States in the 1800s. House sparrows are very aggressive towards other birds, although there is no apparent reason behind their behavior. House sparrows may even kill the owners of a nest, then tear apart the nest and build a new one on the same site.