OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Molothrus ("struggle to sire") ater ("black")
Featured Subspecies: unclear
Weight: 38-49g / Length: 16-22cm / Wingspan: 36cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
A noted brood-parasite, the brown-headed cowbird isn't nearly as specialised into it as other noted species such as the common cuckoo, and taks a fairly cattershot approach, to the point where it has been recording attempting to parasitise over 220 other species. It's aided by the fact it is prolific at producting eggs, with up to 36 a season being recorded! Bizarrely, the first time I saw this species was miles out to sea where one came in and landed on our boat!
Related Species:
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Molothrus
SUBSPECIES: M. a. artemisiae, M. a. obscurus, M. a. ater, M. a. californicus
- Sighting Locations -
Breeding or resident throughout almost all of Lower 48, Winters only in Southern Florida
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen on the Half Moon Bay Pelagic Trip and in Half Moon Bay
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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