EntdeckenVögel

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

The Brown-headed Cowbird is a small bird with a brown head and a shiny black body. They are known for laying their eggs in other birds' nests, which is a unique way of raising their young!

Lebensraum: Grasslands

Aussehen

The Brown-headed Cowbird male is glossy black with a distinct brown head. Females are plain grayish-brown. Both have a short, conical beak adapted for seed-eating, and are smaller than a robin.

ReichAnimaliaStammChordataKlasseAvesOrdnungPasseriformesFamilieIcteridaeGattungMolothrus
Brown-headed Cowbird
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgeomnivorous trait badgegrassland trait badge
Brown-headed Cowbird

Kategorie

Vögel

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

A single female cowbird can lay over 30 eggs in one breeding season!

Baby cowbirds often hatch earlier than host chicks, giving them a head start!

They often follow large animals, like cows, to catch insects stirred up by hooves!

They've been recorded laying eggs in over 220 different bird species' nests!

Besondere Fähigkeiten

Fähigkeit

Master Nest Finder

Brown-headed Cowbird can quickly locate other bird's nests because they are excellent observers, helping them lay eggs stealthily.

Fähigkeit

Egg Disguise

Brown-headed Cowbird has eggs that often blend in with host eggs, helping them trick parents into incubating their young.

Fähigkeit

Rapid Development

Brown-headed Cowbird chicks can grow faster than host chicks, helping them outcompete for food and attention.

Maße und Details

Länge
16-22 cm
Flügelspannweite
30-36 cm
Gewicht
0.03-0.06 kg
Lebenserwartung
2-8 Jahre
Top Speed
40 km/h
Gelegegröße
1
Brutzeit
10-13 Tage
Zugstrecke
2000 km

Ernährung und Fütterung

These adaptable birds eat lots of seeds and juicy insects, finding food wherever they can!

Altersunterschiede: Young chicks are fed by host parents, primarily insects. Adults forage for a mixed diet.

Hauptnahrung

  • Grass seeds
  • Weed seeds
  • Grains
  • Beetles
  • Grasshoppers
  • Caterpillars

Nahrungssuche

  • Foraging

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

parasitizes

Fox Sparrow

Passerella iliaca

Lays eggs in their nest

parasitizes

Red-eyed Vireo

Vireo olivaceus

Often hosts cowbird chicks

eaten by

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Hunts adult cowbirds

eats

Differential Grasshopper

Melanoplus differentialis

A key part of their insect diet

Merkmale

Auch bekannt als

Noch keine Alternativnamen vorhanden.

Sammlungen

Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Was ist der/die/das länge von Brown-headed Cowbird?

16-22 cm

Was ist der/die/das flügelspannweite von Brown-headed Cowbird?

30-36 cm

Was ist der/die/das gewicht von Brown-headed Cowbird?

0.03-0.06 kg

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Brown-headed Cowbird?

2-8 Jahre

Was ist der/die/das top Speed von Brown-headed Cowbird?

40 km/h

Was frisst Brown-headed Cowbird?

These adaptable birds eat lots of seeds and juicy insects, finding food wherever they can!

Wo findet man Brown-headed Cowbird normalerweise?

Grasslands

Wie jagt Brown-headed Cowbird?

Foraging

Snap-Karte

Zoome hinein, um Cluster aufzulösen und zu sehen, wo dieses Objekt fotografiert wurde.

Karte wird geladen…

Neueste Snaps

Neueste Snaps erscheinen hier, wenn neue Beobachtungen hinzukommen.

Wo zu sehen

Mehr Vögel