ExplorarAves

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!

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

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.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseAvesOrdenPasseriformesFamiliaIcteridaeGéneroMolothrus

Brown-headed Cowbird

Categoría

Aves

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

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!

Habilidades especiales

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

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

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

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 16-22 cm
Envergadura: 30-36 cm
Peso: 0.03-0.06 kg
Esperanza de vida: 2-8 años
Top Speed: 40 km/h
Tamaño de la puesta: 1
Incubación: 10-13 días
Distancia de migración: 2000 km

Dieta y alimentación

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

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

Alimentos principales

Grass seeds
Weed seeds
Grains
Beetles
Grasshoppers
Caterpillars

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

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

Rasgos

Con plumas

Describe a los animales, principalmente aves, que poseen una cubierta de plumas.

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.

Omnívoro

Este rasgo identifica organismos cuya dieta incluye tanto materia vegetal como animal.

Pastizal

Los hábitats de pastizales son biomas terrestres dominados por pastos y plantas herbáceas, que sustentan a una variedad de animales de pastoreo.

Diurno

Los animales diurnos están activos principalmente durante el día y suelen descansar o dormir por la noche.

Especie clave

Describe una especie cuya presencia y papel tienen un efecto desproporcionadamente grande en su entorno.

Migratorio

Los animales migratorios emprenden movimientos estacionales de una región a otra, típicamente en respuesta a cambios en el clima o la disponibilidad de alimentos.