Interspecies Parenting

[SpineDaz]

About a year ago I noticed some behaviour in my aviary that I had never seen before and havent seen since and just wondered if any one else has seem anything similar.
I was observing a nest with three almost ready to fledge Emblemas. I was watching the two Emblema parents feeding and routinely returning to feed the chicks. Everything normal. Then I noticed a male Star finch land at the entrance to the Emblema nest and began feeding each Emblema youngster in turn. Wow. Never seen that. That star must really want chicks of his own, I thought.
A few days later the Emblemas had fledged and I observed the parents and the male star still feeding the young. Weird. But then it got weirder. A female Blue faced parrotfinch began feeding the Emblemas. I was shocked. These were the most well fed Emblema chicks in history.
Obviously birds like Bengalese and Zebras will sometimes feed other species but has anyone noticed the behaviour similar to what I have described. Wish I had got it on video.

[jusdeb]

Theres been other breeders in here who have noticed unusual adoptions in the aviary , guess those maternal / paternal instincts run amok every now and then ...Id be sticking with these birds as they obviously are all well socialised with each other and very comfortable with other aviary mates feeding the young.

[Jayburd]

this happened in Monotwine's topic: "Caught the crazy blue caps", where a pair of blue caps (Sqeeee! ) were caugh feeding baby parrot finches!
some good photos of it there
well done on the babies and welcome to the Aussie Finch Forum

[monotwine]

Oh yeah I have had it various times that different species will feed begging fledglings. I think adult birds just shove food down to shut them up. It was a first time for me to see the CB's going to the parrot finches nest to feed.
My other pair of CB's have just incubated, raised and fledged a healthy Zebra! yet as they did it all on their own, no tossing, with little live food and regular nest checks. Perhaps I will try this pair as fosters for waxbills if I'm in a bind. I'm pretty sure they are sterile but they are so keen to be parents they seem not to mind any baby.
Zebbies are gone now and that was there last little present for me. Joy at my CB's breeding finally only to eventually get a little grey Zebra.

[Lukec]

I have had a hen cutthroat assist in fledging
A nest of 8 Gouldians

[Diane]

Ive had a young uncoloured gouldian feed young gouldians just out of the nest, (turned out to be a hen) she fed young from both her parents and other pairs.

[BENSONSAN]

Yep i have a pair of redbrows that feed gouldian chicks