Sparrow Feeding Young Starling

[Weed Shark]

The past couple days I've watched this comical behavior, the adult bird is half the size of the young one, which shadows it and cries for food until obliged. Is this a case of egg dumping? I know young Hooded Mergansers have been seen swimming with young Wood Ducks, because the Merganser laid eggs in a wood duck nest, and then left.

[Steve Foss]

Sounds like egg dumping to me. The most well-known scenario within birding circles is brown-headed cowbirds laying eggs in warbler nests, but it happens with other species as well.

[Weed Shark]

I called it a young Starling without researching it. Reputations usually being well earned, I looked it up after your post and it is a juvenile Cowbird. The step parent seems to be a Chipping Sparrow. Thanks for the good info.