Molothrus ater
(L 7.5" WS 12" WT 1.5 oz)
Does not build its own
nests...been found to use the
nests of 220 other species.
McKinley St Pk, IL
19Aug2010
Molothrus in Greek means
glutton or greedy beggar; ater in
Latin means dead black.
© BirdNote,
Bob Sundstrom
Yard bird 07May20
Oak Park 07Jul2009
© Audubon
Society
As nest parasites, the estimated 50
million Brown-headed Cowbirds in the
U.S. are causing problems for forest song
birds as well as prairie species.
(Scott Weidensaul)