| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
:*Southern coastal [[Alaska]] to south-western [[US]]; > to [[Baja California]] and southern [[Mexico]] | :*Southern coastal [[Alaska]] to south-western [[US]]; > to [[Baja California]] and southern [[Mexico]] | ||
*''M. a. obscurus'': | *''M. a. obscurus'': | ||
| − | :*South-western [[US]] to Guerrero and northern Tamaulipas; > to southern [[Baja California]] and [[Oaxaca]] | + | :*South-western [[US]] to [[Guerrero]] and northern [[Tamaulipas]]; > to southern [[Baja California Sur]] and [[Oaxaca]] |
*''M. a. ater'': | *''M. a. ater'': | ||
:*Central and east-central [[US]]; > to Gulf Coast, [[Florida]] and southern [[Mexico]] | :*Central and east-central [[US]]; > to Gulf Coast, [[Florida]] and southern [[Mexico]] | ||
*''M. a. californicus'': | *''M. a. californicus'': | ||
:*Southern [[California]] to northern [[Baja California]] and Los Coronados Islands (off north-western [[Baja California]]) | :*Southern [[California]] to northern [[Baja California]] and Los Coronados Islands (off north-western [[Baja California]]) | ||
| + | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
[[Image:608-07158fg Immature Eastern Brown-headed Cowbird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[USA]], June 2008]] | [[Image:608-07158fg Immature Eastern Brown-headed Cowbird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|bobsofpa|bobsofpa}}<br />[[Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area]], [[Pennsylvania]], [[USA]], June 2008]] | ||
Revision as of 23:37, 31 May 2009
- Molothrus ater
Identification
15-20cm.
- Finch-like bill
Male - black plumage, glossy brown head.
Female - grey brown.
Distribution
Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec
USA: New England, Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Mexico: Baja California, Tamaulipas, Oaxaca, Los Coronados Islands
Taxonomy
Polytypic. Consists of four subspecies
Subspecies[1]
- M. a. artemisiae:
- Southern coastal Alaska to south-western US; > to Baja California and southern Mexico
- M. a. obscurus:
- South-western US to Guerrero and northern Tamaulipas; > to southern Baja California Sur and Oaxaca
- M. a. ater:
- M. a. californicus:
- Southern California to northern Baja California and Los Coronados Islands (off north-western Baja California)
Habitat
Farmland, foreste edges, suburbs.
Behaviour
Breeding
Cowbirds are brood parasites; the female removes one egg from the host nest and lays one of her own. Four to five white, brown speckled eggs are laid, one at a time.
Vocalisation
Song: A liquid, bubbly gurgle followed by an upslurred, high-pitched whistle (given during display).
Call: check or a rattle.
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Avibase
- eNature
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Brown-headed Cowbird. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 4 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Brown-headed_Cowbird
