Fauna Flora Photography

Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

A small, brood parasitic bird, native to North America, migrating to the South of US and to Mexico in winter. The bird feeds on seeds and insects.

How to Identify

Females are completely brown, rounded head, dark eyes and strong, conical bill. Males have black body and brown head.

Where and When to Spot

I saw this bird species twice. First time a male in Technoparc Montreal and the second time in Boisé des Douze, Saint Hyacinthe. Visually, an unspectacular bird, often overseen.

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Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.