Overview
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) 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.
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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.
Reproduction
Peak breeding takes place in April, May, and June. This species is much reviled, as it is parasitic and lays up to 40 eggs per season in other birds' nests. The baby cowbirds normally outcompete the host species' young, and thus cowbirds have detrimental impacts on other songbirds.
Habitat & Behavior
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 for seeds and arthropods.