H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

Today I’ll be blogging about the brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater). Quite common bird, very abundant in all American States. Parasitic specie like most blackbirds ( Lay their eggs in other birds nests to be taken care by host bird) Some species of birds do not accept this forced arrangement and destroy the foreign eggs.

They are birds that usually fly in groups and mixed with other species of blackbirds. Their appetite is voracious, when they land in fields or feeders they eat like no day tomorrow! 🙂

Approximately 4 seasons  ago, before I got into birding_our neighborhood was visited by a large flock of blackbirds, I mean thousands of birds, they were all over the lawns, roofs roads and everywhere. Did you ever see the movie “ The Birds” ? Just like that, I remember that  Lucy my wife was very spooked, neither of us had ever seen so many birds together!

After a short while they all took off and I haven’t seen another one like that. It was some experience! Cool!

The reason I’m picking this topic to blog today is because I’m getting a lot of cowbirds visiting my feeders.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Female)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Male)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Male)

Brown-headed Cowbird (Female)