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Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
Last Spotted Near You
About the Brown-headed Cowbird
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a small, obligate brood parasitic icterid native to temperate and subtropical North America. It is a permanent resident in the southern parts of its range; northern birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico in winter, returning to their summer habitat around March or April.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Molothrus ater
- Family
- Troupials and Allies
- Order
- Passeriformes
Similar species
Other members of the troupials and allies family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Altamira Oriole Icterus gularis
- Audubon's Oriole Icterus graduacauda
- Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
- Bar-winged Oriole Icterus maculialatus
- Black-backed Oriole Icterus abeillei
- Black-cowled Oriole Icterus prosthemelas
- Black-vented Oriole Icterus wagleri
- Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
- Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
- Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
- Bronzed Cowbird Molothrus aeneus
- Bullock's Oriole Icterus bullockii
Know when the Brown-headed Cowbird turns up near you
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Optics
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