ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

brown-headed cowbird

The brown-headed cowbird is part of the Blackbird family which contains more individuals than any other bird family in Ohio, but includes only a few species. This group of medium-sized walking birds has very diverse coloration and habits. The bill is long and pointed; the tail is usually rounded.

Listen

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

At-a-Glance

• Peak Breeding Activity: April-June

• Clutch Size: can lay up to 40 eggs per season by parasitising numerous nests of other species

• Typical Foods: seeds and arthropods

Description
Brown-headed cowbirds are smaller than most others in the blackbird family, and they have a short, sparrow-like bill. The male is black with a brown head and the female is gray in color with a lighter throat.

Habitat and Habits
The cowbird inhabits all types of situations, generally avoiding only the densest woodlands. They give a distinctive, high-pitched gurgling call that is quite unlike any of our other species. They are often seen in pastures foraging around cattle.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
This species is much reviled, as it is parasitic and lays its eggs in other birds' nests. The baby cowbirds normally outcompete the host species' young, and thus cowbirds have detrimental impacts on other songbirds.