Strife with Father

Foundling Beaky Buzzard ends up living with Monte and Gwendlyn, a pair of polite sparrows who take him in with affection. Beaky grows up curious but not particularly bright, treating the world as a string of problems to be tested with his own quirky logic. When Monte decides Beaky should learn how to catch a chicken, the lessons quickly go from earnest to chaotic. Beaky’s attempts miss the mark in ridiculous ways, turning simple instructions into a parade of pratfalls. The sparrow family endures a series of comic mishaps, including an accidental mallet strike and a grenade mishap, all handled with light touch and bouncing energy. The whole setup favors visual gags and a breezy mood over any dark drama.

Released in 1950 as part of Warner Bros Looney Tunes lineup, this short was directed by Robert McKimson with a story by Warren Foster. Mel Blanc supplies Beaky Buzzard's voice as the rest of the cast builds the bustling neighborhood world, full of quick gags.

Box office data for this short is not publicly disclosed, and there are no widely reported grosses specific to this title. In the era it circulated with other shorts in theater programs and later appeared on television collections.

Beaky Buzzard belongs to the late 1940s and early 1950s wave of Warner Bros birds that fans remember for their quick quips and visual gags. This particular short contributes to that era's creative energy, showcasing brisk timing and the studio's appetite for offbeat family humor that defined cartoon comedy.

Critical notes from the period leaned into WB's brisk pace, sharp sight gags, and a playful tug between parental guidance and a childlike learner. The film underscores a theme of good intentions colliding with comic chaos while keeping the mood light. It still feels bright for younger viewers and comforting for older fans.