Brown-headed Cowbird

Adult males are glossy black with a distinct chocolate-brown head. Females are plain grayish-brown with faint streaking on the underparts and a pale throat. Juveniles are similar to females but more heavily streaked and scaly-looking.

Smallish size, thick conical beak, and in males, the sharp contrast between a brown head and a glossy black body.

Length: 7.5-8.7 in (19-22 cm); Wingspan: 11.8-15 in (30-38 cm); Weight: 1.3-1.8 oz (38-50 g).

Male song is a gurgling 'glug-glug-gleeee'; calls include a high-pitched 'pst-sheee' whistle and a dry rattle.

Primarily seeds and grains, but also eats insects (especially grasshoppers and beetles) stirred up by grazing cattle.

Open grasslands, brushy areas, pastures, forest edges, and suburban backyards.

Short-distance migrant; birds in the northern part of the range move south to the US and Mexico for the winter.

Obligate brood parasite. Females lay eggs in the nests of other birds (hosts), who then raise the cowbird chick as their own.

Brewer's Blackbird (all black with pale eyes), Brown-headed Blackbird (similar name but different taxonomy), or female Red-winged Blackbird (more heavily streaked).

As brood parasites, they impact the reproductive success of over 200 other bird species, which has led to population declines in some sensitive host species.

Least Concern (IUCN); population is large and widespread, though it fluctuates based on forest fragmentation.

Look for them in open areas, fields, and near bird feeders. They often associate with livestock or larger blackbird flocks.

A single female can lay up to 40 eggs in a season, distributed among various host nests. They were historically called 'Buffalo Birds' because they followed bison herds across the Great Plains.