Order: Passeriformes Species: Icteridae

-The Brown-Headed Cowbird (also know as Molothrus ater), is often referred to as the "brood parasite" of the bird world. The reasoning behind this name is due to its oddly lazy method of raising its young. It will deposit its eggs in the nests of other birds in order for them to raise it instead of itself. This in turn causes this young to quite larger and demands far more attention and resources in order for it to fledge and grow. 

-Some species have been able to find methods in which to prevent the cowbird egg to hatch. Yellow Warblers have finessed such a method in which they have come to recognize when an egg that isn't their own has been placed within the nest. In response to this foreign egg, the Yellow Warbler will proceed to build an extra nest on top of the one that contains the Cowbird egg. It has been seen to have built as many as 6 nests on top of one another to discourage the Cowbird from continuing its escapade.

-It has been noted that this bird has laid eggs in as many as 220 different species of birds nests, as it does not make its own nest what so ever. Individual females will also focus mainly on one set species at a time when laying its eggs. Its a strange behavior that has yet to be properly understood by scientists especially since the Brown-Headed Cowbird is a non monogamous species.

-The diet of this bird mainly consists of seeds alone, but when lacking in calcium levels it will cannibalize the eggs of other birds so it can continue to lay its eggs for the nesting season. This can be a total of up to 60 eggs within this period of time. 

-Since the eggs of the Cowbird hatch faster and grow much quicker, it often gets a head start in feedings. This has often resulted in the Cowbird baby destroying the unhatched eggs, tossing them from the nest, or smothering the young smaller chicks at the bottom of the nest. 

-Even though many bird species have thrown the eggs of the Cowbird from their nests or eaten them themselves, the mother is always watching to ensure its young are raised and not harmed. If the mother Cowbird sees that their young aren't there anymore or have perished, they will then attack the hosts young/eggs in retaliation ensuring that the host does not have a successful raised clutch.

-The oldest Brown-Headed Cowbird was a male who had been recaptured and rereleased in Wisconsin at an estimated age of 16 years and 11 months.

Is this bird protected under the Migratory Bird Act? - NO, not unless this bird is located at the time of sighting within the confines of a national or provincial park.

Current conservation status: Least Concern