The Brown-headed Cowbird is a brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of over 220 other bird species rather than raising its own young. Originally a nomadic follower of bison herds on the Great Plains, it spread across North America with forest fragmentation and has become a significant contributor to the decline of many songbird species. The male's glossy brown head contrasts with a metallic green-black body.
Habitat
Open fields, forest edges, farms, and suburbs
Diet
Seeds, grains, and insects
How common
Common
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