Quantcast

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus aterOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)
Brown-headed Cowbird Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Cone
  • Eye Color: Brown.
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown Color: Glossy brown
  • Forehead Color: Glossy brown
  • Nape Color: Glossy brown
  • Throat Color: Glossy brown
  • Cere color: No Data
Brown-headed Cowbird Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 18-21 cm (7-8.25 in)
  • Weight: 48 g (1.7 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: Brown, Black
  • Underparts: Black with faint green sheen.
  • Upperparts: Black with faint green sheen.
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Brown-headed Cowbird Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Swooping direct flight with rapid wing beats.
  • Wingspan Range: 30-35 cm (11.75-13.75 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black with faint green sheen.
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Black
.
Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007  Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
 Privacy Policy.
Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Buntings, Finches, Sparrows (Emberizidae)_blue
Species Molothrus ater
Length7 - 8.25 Inches
Wingspan12.75 Inches

Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird: Small blackbird with glossy brown head, heavy bill, and dark eyes. The black body has a faint green sheen. Walks on ground to forage and holds tail cocked over back. Feeds on caterpillars, insects, spiders, fruits, grains and seeds. Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "glug-glug-glee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Brown-headed Cowbird: Eats mostly seeds and arthropods. Forages on the ground, but sometimes hawks slow-flying insects.

● Breeding & nesting: Brown-headed Cowbird: Nest parasite; usually one brown flecked light blue egg is laid in the nest of another species of bird. As many as thirty-six eggs are laid per nesting season. Incubation ranges from 10 to 13 days and is carried out by the host. Altricial young usually hatch first and outcompete hosts’ young.

● Similar species: Brown-headed Cowbird: Bronzed Cowbird is slightly larger and has larger bill and red eyes. Male Shiny Cowbird is glossy black overall and has a purple sheen on head, back, and breast. Female has gray-brown upperparts.

Flight Pattern

Swooping direct flight with rapid wing beats.
Brown-headed Cowbird Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Brown-headed Cowbird: Breeds throughout much of southern Canada and the U.S. Spends winters in central and southern parts of breeding range as well as in Florida. Habitat consists of agricultural lands, fields, woodland edges, and suburban areas.
BreedingPromiscuous
Population
MigrationNorthern birds migrate
Weight1.7 Ounces