Expert: Miguel Rodriguez - 7/28/2008

Question
I found a dead baby cardinal (crashed into my window) ouch! It tears me up inside.  We picked it up but it took its last breath in our hands.  My question is Do you think  the "parents" go looking for the baby? I left it near the window for a few hours than put it in the woods in the back of our house.  I believe birds mourn but maybe their attention span is short and they forget sooner and easier that us!  Thanks!

Answer
They don't mourn per se. Mourning is something that has only been demonstrated (or inferred) for higher mammals, like primates, dolphins and elephants. If a bird finds that it has no chick to feed, then it'll either go about it's business or, if still in breeding season, maybe lay another clutch.