Joann Merritt's Essays

Looks Meaner Than A Junk Yard Dog
June, 1996

Don and I saw Count Dracula of the bird world give the evil eye to some sparrows, finches and cowbirds. He was aggressively protecting “his” grain where they were all feeding. In lieu of a cape raised the thick ruff on his neck and upper back making his head seem enormous for his body size. He threw back his head and blood red eyes seemed to be glaring menacingly down his large beak through bifocals. I wish Don could have captured that expression and appearance on film. It was wickedly awesome. (Of course you recognize Count Dracula as a Bronzed Cowbird, formerly called the “Red-eyed” Cowbird.) Bronzed Cowbirds are recent immigrants to Midland, and like other cowbirds, parasitize the nests of other birds by laying eggs in the host’s nest.