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Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male

General Description: Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are medium-sized blackbirds with a conical, pointed, somewhat finch-like bill. Males are all black with a brown head, and females are dark brown above and lighter brown below. Juveniles are even lighter than females and can appear mottled. The tail and bill lengths look "normal" (compare with Great-tailed Grackles, which have become common around Las Vegas in recent years).

Taxonomy: Passeriformes, Icteridae.

Favored Habitat: Cowbirds seem to occur everywhere, but they are most common around pastures and farm fields with horses and cows.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird female

Where to Find: Neighborhood parks (e.g., Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park), parking lots, and the fields and horse pastures around Overton (near the Overton Wildlife Management Area).

Comments: These birds breed by laying eggs in the nests of other birds. The cowbird hatchling then kicks the other eggs or nestlings out of the nest, and the hapless parents are left feeding and raising a cowbird.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) If you were a tasty bug or a little seed, this might be the last face you ever see!
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male and females
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird male and female
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird female
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird female
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird female
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird female
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird juvenile
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird juvenile
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Brown-headed Cowbird juvenile at a spring in the desert
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
A cowbird is attracted to a bit of water on the ground during summer
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240126
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