Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
The adult brown-headed cowbird lives in open grasslands, farms, pastures, woodland edges, and towns across much of North America. It walks and hops on the ground, often near grazing animals, feeding on seeds, insects, and other small invertebrates. Males are glossy black with a brown head, while females are plain gray-brown and more subdued in appearance. Its most notable trait is brood parasitism: females lay eggs in the nests of other songbirds instead of building their own nest.
- Type
- Wing
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Brown-headed Cowbird