Cowbird - Brown Headed

Other Breeds

Keeshond   |   Palomino   |   Pig – Pot Bellied   |  

Alternative Name

Brown-Headed Cowbird Scientific Name: Molothrus ater

Basic Info

Brown Headed Cowbirds usually grow to about seven inches (15 to 20 centimeters) in length. These birds' bills resemble finches' bills. The eyes, feet, legs, and bills are all black. Their tails are rounded and their wings are usually more pointed. The female Brown Headed Cowbird has undecorated gray - brown plumage. Generally, the chins and throats of female Brown Headed Cowbirds are paler shades of this color or white. Males are usually black with brown heads and necks, and the feathers on their heads are shiny and black. Both sexes have a faint greenish gloss to their feathers. Generally, the chins and throats of Brown Headed Cowbirds are white.

Health

Because Brown Headed Cowbirds eat seeds, berries, grains, and mostly insects in the wild, their captive diet should closely follow the natural regime. Breeding The Brown Headed Cowbird usually mates in the last weeks of spring. Males court females by whistling and singing to them. Generally, one egg will be laid in the nest of another bird, after the female Brown Headed Cowbird removes a pre-existing egg from the nest. The eggs may be laid in the nests of over 200 different species of bird! Usually, they are the nests of birds smaller than the cowbird, so as the young chick is raised with the surrogate family, it is much larger than its "siblings" and may have an advantage over them for food. Although some birds will remove the foreign egg, most raise it as one of their own.

Habitat

Usually found only in North America

Behavior

In the wild, Brown Headed Cowbirds are quite interesting to watch and their lifestyles and natural history are also very unique and fascinating! Brown Headed Cowbirds usually live near large animals like cattle or horses, probably because they feed on the insects kicked up out of grass or soil by these animals! Usually, these are hopping insects like grasshoppers. Brown Headed Cowbirds will usually migrate into more southern areas of North America for the colder months of the year. During this migration, they may associate with other species of birds. They walk along the ground with their wings trailing and their tails held upright while searching for such food.

Origin

North America

History

Brown Headed Cowbirds probably laid their eggs in the nests of other birds as an adaptation to their nomadic life. Because they followed herds of buffalo across North American plains, they could not remain in one area long enough to make a nest and raise a brood. Although these herds are now largely gone, the Brown Headed Cowbird has adapted to live near livestock herds. The populations of these birds have increased with livestock populations. The Brown Headed Cowbird is usually found only in North America, though other species of cowbird may be found down through South America into the tropics. Because they are parasitic and can kill the eggs of other species or consume the resources of other species that raise their chicks, Brown Headed Cowbirds may actually help reduce the populations of some songbird species.

Common Foods

In the winter months when insects are scarce, Brown Headed Cowbirds may eat grain or berries.