Field Guide/Birds/Molothrus ater

2004-07-01T01:41:49Z

24.98.251.3: Changed several instances of "these birds" to species name. Changed "foster" to host. Added info about number of eggs laid and host rejection and common sighting at birdfeeders.

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" align="right" cellpadding="2" style="margin-left: 0.5em">
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''Brown-headed Cowbird'''</th></tr>
<tr><td align="center">[[image:BrownheadedCowbird23.jpg| Photo: Cowbird]]</tr></td>
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor=pink>'''[[Scientific Classification]]'''</th></tr>
<tr><td><table align="center">
<tr><td>{{Regnum}}:</td><td>[[Animal]]ia</td></tr>
<tr><td>{{Phylum}}:</td><td>[[Chordate|Chordata]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>{{Classis}}:</td><td>[[bird|Aves]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>{{Ordo}}: </td><td>[[Passeriformes]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>{{Familia}}:</td><td>[[Icteridae]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>{{Genus}}:</td><td>[[Cowbird|Molothrus]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>{{Species}}:</td><td>''ater''</td></tr>
</table>
<tr><th align="center" bgcolor="pink">'''[[Binomial nomenclature|Binomial name]]'''</th></tr>
<tr><td align="center">'''''Molothrus ater'''''<br><small>([[Boddaert]], [[1783]])</small></td></tr>

</table>
The '''Brown-headed Cowbird''', ''Molothrus ater'', is a small [[icterid]].

Adults have a short [[finch]]-like bill and dark eyes. The adult male is mainly irridescent black with a brown head. The adult female is grey with a pale throat and fine streaking on the underparts.

Breeding in open or semi-open country across most of [[North America]], this bird lays its eggs in the nests of other small [[passerine]]s (perching birds), particularly those that build cup-like nests, such as the [[Yellow Warbler]]. The young cowbird is fed by the host parents at the expense of their own young.

Brown-headed Cowbirds are permanent residents in the southern parts of their range; northern birds [[bird migration|migrate]] to the southern [[United States]] and [[Mexico]]. They often travel in flocks, sometimes mixed with [[Red-winged Blackbird]]s or [[European Starling]]s.

These birds forage on the ground, often following grazing animals such as [[horse]]s and [[cattle|cow]]s to catch insects stirred up by the larger animals. They mainly eat seeds and insects.

At one time, the Brown-headed Cowbird followed the [[bison]] herds across the [[prairie]]s. Their [[parasite|parasitic]] nesting behaviour complimented this [[nomad|nomadic]] lifestyle. Their numbers expanded with the clearing of forested areas and the introduction of new grazing animals by settlers across North America. Brown-headed Cowbirds are now commonly seen at suburban birdfeeders.

Brown-headed Cowbird females can lay 36 eggs in a season. Over 140 different species of bird are known to have raised young cowbirds. Host parents may sometimes notice the cowbird egg. Different species react in different ways. [[Gray Catbird]]s destroy the egg by pecking it. Some species may simply build a new layer over the bottom of the original nest. Brown-headed cowbird nestlings are sometimes expelled from the nest.

[[nl:bruinkop-koevogel]]

Pathfinder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Field Guide/Birds/Molothrus ater