Brown-headed Cowbird- Female for Feathered Friends Photo Contest

BHCO_4661 2019-05-12 N Potholes Reserve.JPG
Everyone loves to hate the Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater because they take advantage of other species by laying their eggs in the next of other songbirds and just leaving the host bird to incubate their egg, feed their young, and they just go off to find another nest to lay another egg. This female Brown-headed Cowbird is very dull and drab compared to the male which is a glossy black with a brown head.
In winter these cowbirds form large flocks, sometimes single species flocks, and other times joining other flocks of blackbirds. Although many people "hate" these birds, I think that they are pretty clever and their unique way of reproductive success is something we maybe should be jealous of more than hate.
Here is a male just for comparison.

BHCO_8360 2021-04-27 Dune.JPG
Thanks for following. Good birding.

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