Kingdom Animalia Family Icteridae Higher classification Icterid Rank Genus | Order Passeriformes Scientific name Molothrus Phylum Chordata | |
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Lower classifications Brown‑headed cowbird, Shiny cowbird, Bronzed cowbird, Giant cowbird, Screaming cowbird | ||
Cowbirds are birds belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae. They are brood parasitic New World birds which are unrelated to the Old World cuckoos, one of which, the common cuckoo, is the most famous brood parasitic bird.
Contents
The Molothrus genus contains:
The non-brood parasitic baywing was formerly placed in this genus; it is now classified as Agelaioides badius.
Brown headed cowbirds
Behavior
These birds feed on insects, including the large numbers that may be stirred up by cattle. In order for the birds to remain mobile and stay with the herd, they have adapted by laying their eggs in other birds' nests. The cowbird will watch for when its host lays eggs, and when the nest is left unattended, the female will come in and lay its own eggs. The female cowbird may continue to observe the nest after laying her eggs. If the cowbird egg is removed, the female cowbird may destroy the host's eggs (see "Mafia hypothesis" for an explanation of this behavior).
