Motherhood and the Relationships of the Sexes
The parents of the woodcock carry their children to the feeding ground, to and from the nest, supporting the precious little ones with their beaks, and pressed close within their feet, which are used as maternal arms.[40]  A delightful incident was witnessed during the feeding-time of a red-backed shrike—[41]      “The male had brought to the nest a young bird, and, pulling     off its head, proceeded to ram it down the throat of a very     unfortunate youngster.