21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Unconditional love
Brood parasitism in action. A Malaysian Pied-fantail parent feeding a Rusty-breasted Cuckoo fledgling beside the nest. The Fantail has no idea that the baby bird was not genetically related to her; the Fantail mama continued to feed the Cuckoo chick for weeks till the latter grew even bigger than its foster parent. A 500mm telephoto was used to provide adequate distance and avoid disturbance to the nesting.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 08.2023 |
| Date Uploaded: | 09.2023 |
| Photo Location: | Singapore, Singapore |
| Camera: | NIKON D850 |
| Copyright: | © Tze Siong Tan |