Feeding the baby

In the oaks and pines at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, in the mountains of San Diego County, I kept hearing a loud whistled call that I couldn't immediately identify. The short-duration whistle was down-slurred but rose at the end. It didn't necessarily even sound bird-like. It didn't take long to find the sources, though--they were everywhere!

Juvenile Black-headed Grosbeak. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, California. July 1, 2018.

The whistles belonged to juvenile Black-headed Grosbeaks and evidently were begging calls.

Everywhere, it seemed, baby birds were begging to be fed! The next photo is likely the same bird I photographed above or perhaps a sibling being fed by its mother.

Dads got in on the feeding action too. Below, a male Bullock's Oriole feeds its youngster what appears to be a preying mantis.

Finally, another baby grosbeak gets fed. This time, by its father.