Brown-headed cowbird
Molothrus ater
Identification Tips:
- Length: 6.5 inches
- Short, conical bill
- Dark eyes
- Frequents open habitats
- When feeding on ground often cocks its tail
- Often found in large flocks in migration and winter
Adult male:
- Brown head
- Black body, wings and tail
Adult female:
- Grayish-brown plumage-darker on upperparts
- Underparts faintly streaked
- Throat pale
- Juvenile browner and streakier than adult female with pale edging on wings
Similar species:
The Brown-headed Cowbird is smaller and shorter-tailed than blackbirds and
grackles and has a more conical bill. Bronzed Cowbird is similar to female
Brown-headed Cowbird but has red eyes and is slightly larger with a longer
bill.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.