They’re not the same. And cowbirds are parasitic birds - they lay their eggs in the nests of songbirds, then leave them to be raised by the songbird parents. If that’s not bad in and of itself, the real problem is that cowbird chicks are typically bigger and more aggressive so they get most if not all of the food brought to the nestlings by parents, often starving their nest mates.
Two years ago a cardinal nested in a bush near a window in our house. One day I looked out and saw a cowbird sitting on the nest. After she left I found a speckled egg, larger than the other eggs in the nest. I removed the speckled egg. The next day the nest was torn up and all the eggs scattered on the ground under the bush. The vindictive cowbird had destroyed the nest. I have read that is not uncommon.
Ken
) as I was driving along. I slowed to about 40mph, rolled down the window, and took several pics with my phone...not taking my eyes off of the road. These 3 were the best of the bunch, I mostly got some good pictures of the interior of my truck.
