Date: 8/11/26 6:45 pm From: 'Pete Sole' via mbbirds <mbbirds...> Subject: Re: [MBBIRDS] A breeding bird report conundrum...
Thanks for the response and reference Kyan. Very helpful.
I've updated the list per the info you sent.
Appreciated,
Pete
On 8/11/26 6:02 PM, Kyan Russell wrote:
> CBA produced an excellent tool for this situation! Type in the species
> and it will show you what codes are appropriate - for example, a Great
> Blue Heron does not sing. Plugging in the cowbird, we see the following:
>
> "Cowbirds do not feed their young. Use FL for cowbird when fledgling
> observed being fed (host species doing the feeding can be coded as FY)."
> https://codecheck.californiabirdatlas.org/bnhcow >
> Thus, code the Song Sparrow as FY, and the cowbird as FL.
>
> Happy atlasing!
>
>
> On Tue, Aug 11, 2026 at 5:52 PM 'Pete Sole' via mbbirds
> <mbbirds...> wrote:
>
> Hi birders,
>
> I find myself with a bit of a conundrum on how to code a
> "breeding" bird
> report on eBird. Perhaps the birding community can suggest a path
> forward.
>
> Background: Went to Lighthouse Field State Beach today, to look
> for the
> Eastern Kingbird that had been reported and photographed. I dipped on
> the Kingbird, but saw a poor Song Sparrow feeding a young
> Brown-headed
> Cowbird. The question is, how should I report the breeding
> activity for
> these two species?
>
> For now, I've coded the Song Sparrow as "Carrying Food" and the
> Brown-headed Cowbird as "Feeding Young", but I'm not sure that is
> correct. Fortunately, this little conundrum is not the end of the
> world,
> but still not sure how to proceed. For those curious, here is a
> link to
> the relevant eBird report with related photos attached, to the
> Cowbird
> list item.
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S382345183 >
> Your thoughts on the appropriate Breeding Behavior Codes for the
> sparrow
> and cowbird?
>
> Separately, there was a Scaly-breasted Munia in Lighthouse Field, the
> first I've ever seen at that location, as well a an adult female
> Hooded
> Oriole feeding a young Hooded Oriole.
>
> Pete Solé
>
> Visiting Lighthouse Field from Soquel CA
>
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