Bluebird moms inadvertently fuel wars between species

Extra hormones delivered to sons in tough times have far-reaching consequences

Male bluebird feeds female

BREEDING AGGRESSION   Among western bluebirds, harassed mothers tend to give extra hormones to their eggs, a gift that ends up leading to waves of hostile takeovers.

Alex Badyaev

Bluebird wars begin with the power of vexed moms in their nests.