Male
Female
Description
Size: 7.5”
Plumage/Description: Males have an iridescent quality to their plumage. In poor lighting males appear very dark overall, even black. In good lighting the entire head appears brown, and the body appears a glossy green-black color. Female plumage is a pale brown color with fine brown streaking on breast and belly. Note the conical shaped beak.
Habitat: Brown-headed Cowbirds can be found in almost every habitat in the Prescott area. Because they do not build their own nest they don’t have a ‘fixed’ territory for breeding purposes. Brown-headed Cowbirds frequently visit backyard seed feeders where they prefer white-proso millet.
Time of year: Spring, summer resident.
Relative Abundance: Common in appropriate season.
Behavior: Brown-headed Cowbirds are a parasitic species, laying their eggs in the nests’ of a host species. Not uncommon to see several males pursuing (in flight) one female.
Diet: Seeds, insects
Similar species: Bronzed Cowbird
Best Sites: Residential neighborhoods, Granite Creek Park, Watson Woods, Acker Park.
