Pl. L
The Birds · Plate L
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Icteridae · Taxon 10373
| Length | 16–22 cm (6.3–8.7 in) |
| Wingspan | 32–38 cm (12.6–15.0 in) |
| Weight | 38–50 g (1.3–1.8 oz) |
Field marks
- Stocky, short-tailed blackbird with a thick, conical, finch-like bill.
- Adult male has a rich brown head contrasting with a glossy black body.
- Adult female is plain dusty brown, typically paler on the head and underparts, with faint belly streaking.
- Dark eye; legs and feet are dark gray to black.
- Broad wings and a short, square-to-rounded tail give a compact silhouette.
HabitatOpen and semi-open habitats, including grasslands, fields, pastures, meadows, lawns, brushy edges, and woodland margins; generally avoids dense, unbroken forest.
BehaviorObligate brood parasite; does not build its own nest, instead laying eggs in other birds’ nests. Often forages on the ground and gathers in flocks, especially in open country.
Palette
glossy blackrich browndusty brownpale buff-graydark gray-black