What does a female brown-headed cowbird look like?

Male Brown-headed Cowbirds have glossy black plumage and a rich brown head that often looks black in poor lighting or at distance. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are plain brown birds, lightest on the head and underparts, with fine streaking on the belly and a dark eye.

How big is a female cowbird?

The adult female is slightly smaller and is dull grey with a pale throat and very fine streaking on the underparts. Their total length is 16–22 cm (6.3–8.7 in) and the average wingspan is 36 cm (14 in).

Are there different types of cowbirds?

Brown-headed cowbird
Shiny cowbirdBronzed cowbirdGiant cowbirdScreaming cowbird
Cowbirds/Lower classifications

Are Brown-headed Cowbirds good?

Even though Brown-headed Cowbirds are native to North America, many people consider them a nuisance bird, since they destroy the eggs and young of smaller songbirds and have been implicated in the decline of several endangered species, including Kirtland’s Warbler and Black-capped Vireo.

Are cowbirds good for anything?

The Basics. The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a brood parasite, meaning that it lays its eggs in nests of other species. These advantages allow them to command the most food from their foster parents, usually resulting in reduced nesting success of the host species.

What bad reputation do cowbirds have?

Cowbirds have always had a terrible reputation from christening onward. The Latinate name, Molothrus ater is quite appropriate: Molothrus from the Greek for vagabond, tramp or parasite and ater, the Greek for black, the color of this bird with the brown head. From early on these birds were detested for this behavior.

Are cowbirds invasive?

While the brown-headed cowbird is native to North America, it is a much worse villain than the European starling — an invasive species that has expanded like wildfire in the U.S. since it was introduced in the late 1800s — ever thought about being.

Where can I find a brown headed cowbird?

Female brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) on a sand beach. Female Brown-headed Cowbird foraging in grassy area. Vadnais Heights, Minnesota. Female Brown-headed Cowbird; Molothrus ater perched on a tree branch Vadnais Heights, Minnesota.

What kind of bird has a black head?

Chunky blackbird with a thick, conical bill. Adult males have black bodies and brown heads, which can appear all black in poor light. Stocky blackbird with a short tail and a thick, conical bill. Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are plain brown, lightest on the head and underparts, with fine streaking on the belly and a dark eye.

What kind of bird sings like a cowbird?

Here a Yellow Warbler feeds a juvenile cowbird as if it were her own. Highly gregarious. Males often raise their back and chest feathers, lift their wings, spread their tail feathers, and bow forward when singing.

How to tell if a cowbird is a warbler?

The short, thick-based, sharply pointed bill is a key mark. Lays eggs in the nest of other birds, which raise cowbird young. Here a Yellow Warbler feeds a juvenile cowbird as if it were her own. Highly gregarious. Males often raise their back and chest feathers, lift their wings, spread their tail feathers, and bow forward when singing.