Birding/Sharing Nests

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Expert: - 6/25/2007


Question
We have a robins nest above our front door.  We noticed the other evening that she seemed to be "sharing" the nest with a chickadee (or some other small bird).  The chickadee would get right next to the nest, and the robin would leave to get more food for the babies.  This went on for quite awhile.  Have you ever heard of different types of birds "sharing" a nest?  I don't know if they chikadee has eggs in there as well (too high up to check).  Thanks.

Answer
There are cases of swallows and other small birds nesting in the sides of much larger birds's nests, but birds of different species do not share eggs in the same nest. Certainly not a chickadee and robin as chickadees nest in holes in trees and robins do not.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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