# 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! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 121 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Brown-headed Cowbird](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Brown_headed_cowbird_female_in_JBWR_%2825487%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_headed_cowbird_female_in_JBWR_%2825487%29.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Passeriformes - **Family:** Icteridae - **Genus:** Molothrus ## Interesting facts - 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! ## Special abilities - **Master Nest Finder:** Brown-headed Cowbird can quickly locate other bird's nests because they are excellent observers, helping them lay eggs stealthily. - **Egg Disguise:** Brown-headed Cowbird has eggs that often blend in with host eggs, helping them trick parents into incubating their young. - **Rapid Development:** Brown-headed Cowbird chicks can grow faster than host chicks, helping them outcompete for food and attention. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 16-22 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-36 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.06 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-8 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1 - **Incubation:** 10-13 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding These adaptable birds eat lots of seeds and juicy insects, finding food wherever they can! - **Age differences:** Young chicks are fed by host parents, primarily insects. Adults forage for a mixed diet. - **Primary Foods:** Grass seeds, Weed seeds, Grains, Beetles, Grasshoppers, Caterpillars - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Parasitizes:** Fox Sparrow (*Passerella iliaca*) — Lays eggs in their nest - **Parasitizes:** [Red-eyed Vireo](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-eyed-vireo) (*Vireo olivaceus*) — Often hosts cowbird chicks - **Eaten by:** [Cooper's Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Hunts adult cowbirds - **Eats:** [Differential Grasshopper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/differential-grasshopper) (*Melanoplus differentialis*) — A key part of their insect diet ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Parasitic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/parasitic): This trait describes organisms that live on or in a host organism, obtaining nutrients at the host's expense. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch or catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Brown-headed Cowbird? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Brown-headed Cowbird? 16-22 cm ### What is Brown-headed Cowbird's wingspan? 30-36 cm ### How much does Brown-headed Cowbird weigh? 0.03-0.06 kg ### How long does Brown-headed Cowbird live? 2-8 years ### How fast can Brown-headed Cowbird move? 40 km/h ### What does Brown-headed Cowbird eat? These adaptable birds eat lots of seeds and juicy insects, finding food wherever they can! ### Where is Brown-headed Cowbird usually found? Grasslands ## Where to spot - [Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alfred-b-maclay-gardens-state-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden - [Blake Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blake-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Bloomingdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloomingdale) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Botanical Research Institute of Texas](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/botanical-research-institute-of-texas) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Brown-headed Cowbird](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/brown-headed-cowbird) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Brown-headed Cowbird: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-headed-cowbird)