COWBIRD PARASITISM AND NEST SUCCESS OF THE LAZULI BUNTING IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY

Abstract

Reports of the frequency of Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) parasitism on the Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) vary greatly. The bunting has often been described as an uncommon host (Friedmann et al. 1977, Friedmann and Kiff 1985), though King (1954) found two of three nests parasitized and four family groups of fledglings with a juvenile cowbird.