Life List 073
Visually documented
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
- First photographed
- June 23, 2026
- First location
- Utah, United States
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
An evolving study
Brown-headed Cowbird portfolio
This collection grows as I return to photograph new behavior, habitat, seasons, and stages of life.
Natural history
Species at a glance
Molothrus ater
Overview
The Brown-headed Cowbird is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other songbirds rather than raising its own young. Its historic association with roaming bison translated readily to livestock and fragmented landscapes.
Identification
Adult males have a glossy black body and contrasting brown head with a thick conical bill. Females are plain gray-brown overall, and juveniles are browner with pale scaling.
Range
Found across most of southern Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Northern populations migrate, while birds in many southern areas remain resident.
Habitat
Open woodland edges, grasslands, pastures, farms, feedlots, suburbs, and roadsides, often near grazing animals.
Diet
Seeds and grain picked from the ground, plus insects and other invertebrates, especially during the breeding season.
Photography by Brittany Templin
Bring the story of the Brown-headed Cowbird into your project or space.
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