Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

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Identification

Field notes

19 cm (7-8") Common and increasing throughout North America. Farms, fields, roadsides, wood edges, river groves, suburbs.

Male: completely brown head on an all black body.

Female: gray-brown above, paler below.

Short sparrow-like bill.

Feeds on ground with tail uplifted. This species lays its eggs in nests of other species, allowing the unsuspecting recipients to raise its young.

Song: squeaky gurgle; harsh rattle and squeaky whistle calls.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Rick Bond

Watch and learn

Videos

1 video

Brown-headed Cow Bird

Credit: videofilmik

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Brown-Headed Cowbird (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Male · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:988-brown-headed-cowbird-male:1:1 Source: 988 Brown-Headed Cowbird (Male), row 1

Brown-Headed Cowbird (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 16 criteria confidence 5

What was the sex of the bird ?: Female · Unknown
Did the WINGS have STRIPES or PATCHES ?: No · Unknown
What colour were the WINGS ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Conical and slender · Conical and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · Sideburn stripe running down beneath the eye · Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Songbird (ground or perching bird)

result:989-brown-headed-cowbird-female:1:1 Source: 989 Brown-Headed Cowbird (Female), row 1