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Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

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Molothrus ater by EricBrian
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Order
Passeriformes
Family
Icteridae
Genus
Molothrus
Species
ater
Regional

This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:

Auburn, Alabama

Mesa, Arizona

North Little Rock, Arkansas

Logan Lake, British Columbia

Highland, California

Klamath River, California

San Jose, California

Brookfield, Connecticut

Daytona Beach, Florida

Jacksonville, Florida

Melbourne, Florida

Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Carrollton, Georgia

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Algonquin, Illinois

Anna, Illinois

Cherry Valley, Illinois

Westchester, Illinois

Coatesville, Indiana

Popejoy, Iowa

Hebron, Kentucky

Irvine, Kentucky

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Traverse City, Michigan

Hamel, Minnesota

Marietta, Mississippi

Cole Camp, Missouri

Conway, Missouri

El Dorado Springs, Missouri

Jackson, Missouri

Saint Louis, Missouri

Greenville, New Hampshire

Elephant Butte, New Mexico

Hamburg, New York

Himrod, New York

Round Top, New York

Yonkers, New York

Concord, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina

Chillicothe, Ohio

Columbus, Ohio

Corning, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Lebanon, Ohio

Oak Harbor, Ohio

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Edisto Island, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Clarksville, Tennessee

Memphis, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Fort Worth, Texas(2 reports)

Houston, Texas

Keller, Texas

Orange, Texas

Spring, Texas

Broad Run, Virginia

Fredericksburg, Virginia

Newport News, Virginia

Penhook, Virginia

Portsmouth, Virginia

Walkerton, Virginia

Shelton, Washington

Skokomish, Washington

Lander, Wyoming

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Gardener's Notes:
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D

David_In_Dryden

Metamora, MI | July 2024 | Neutral
Early this year we had mostly cowbirds at the feeders, yes they ate the suit and the seeds, and even pecked at the oranges we put out for the Orioles. But then they left to where I know not. Doesn't matter we put food out for all of Gods little creatures and enjoy them all. Even the squirrels that get into the feeders.
M

ManhattanJewess

Round Top, NY | July 2016 | Neutral
They're all over the catskills. As a matter of fact I'm having a terrible problem with them eating the suet I leave out for the Woodpeckers. They eat the seeds for the Cardinals. I hate them.
c

coriaceous

ROSLINDALE, MA | February 2016 | Negative
Cowbird nest parasitism is believed to be responsible, together with loss of winter habitat in S. America, for much of the recent radical decline in our native N. American songbird populations.

It's also true that we've eliminated much of the deep woodland in which songbirds can nest but cowbirds don't.
C

Chillybean

(Zone 5a) | December 2014 | Neutral
I do not really care for the bird because of their instinct to lay eggs in other species' nests, yet where can the blame be placed? Us or at least our ancestors, with deforestation so those who nested deep in the woods have to nest closer to the edge, and the near obliteration of bison and their habitat. How often people did things in the past that effect us today. Think about what you do now that will impact our children and beyond.

I cannot say I've seen any Cowbird bully other birds at the feeders, but we do not encourage the females to hang around during nesting season, but if she doesn't lay eggs here, she'll lay them elsewhere. At least we've never seen a Cowbird interested in the nesting boxes or Barn Swallow nests we've monitored.

I admit the mal... read more
h

hippigirl63

El Dorado Springs, MO | August 2013 | Neutral
i am adding a pic of an immature bird that frequents my window feeder. this little mooch is still begging for food from a tiny (in comparison) indigo bunting, who looks harassed. i understand that indigo bunting nests are often parasitized by the brown headed cowbird.
interestingly, this bird was once called a buffalo bird. it developed the practice of leaving its eggs in other birds' nests out of necessity. since the buffalo, which the birds depended on, moved continually, the buffalo birds could not remain on a nest long enough to hatch and raise their own young. when the buffalo were replaced by cattle, the re-named cow bird continued its old ways.
t

tlm1

Jacksonville, FL (Zone 9a) | March 2012 | Negative
I've discovered that these birds are notorious for laying their eggs in the nests of others. Notably, Carolina Wren, and Cardinals, in my area. They seem to leave them for "others" to raise. They also seem to be "bullies" at and around our feeders. The only good I can say is they don't stay around for too long!
M

Mila1

Memphis, TN (Zone 7b) | January 2011 | Positive
Hundreds of cowbirds swoop down in one area and furiously peck at something on the ground. After about 20 seconds, they take off as a group and land on the trees above. Then they swoop down on another area nearby and continue to feed. Then they take off again and perch on the power lines above. In this manner, they cover the entire neighborhood, one section at a time. They only do this at certain times of day, I'm not sure what they're eating, but they do this every day, and whatever it is, it has to be a lot of bugs! I know people complain about these birds, but imagine what would happen if all those bugs didn't get eaten!
p

plantladylin

(Zone 1) | January 2010 | Neutral
The Brown-headed Cowbird seems to congregate with other flocking Blackbirds in the fall and winter seasons here in my area. We often see the Brown-headed Cowbird at the feeders during the winter months. Their diet consists of mostly grains and seeds but will also include insects.

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