Odd Birds

While many local species of birds have their own unique behaviors, one that fascinates biologists everywhere is the brown-headed cowbird and its strange mannerisms. This year-round resident of Cincinnati belongs to the larger family of blackbirds. Today, they’re found in field and forest edge, feasting on insects and mostly seeds in winter. Some bird watchers consider its presence an annoying one at the feeder, considering the way the cowbird takes care of (or doesn’t care for) its young. 

Unlike most birds, the female cowbird does not build a nest. The energy that would be spent on that, she uses to produce several clutches of eggs, none of which she raises. Instead, she places them in other birds’ nests, hoping the other mother doesn’t notice. However, once the cowbird egg hatches, it can be a bigger hatchling than the others and can take more food or even shove the other babies from the nest. This scenario has been seen in nests of over 200 different species! A few of the larger and more wary birds can peck a hole in the cowbird egg or toss it out; some even build a new nest on top, but many won’t notice or be able to react. 

Long ago, cowbirds may have followed roving herds of bison, feeding off the insects that their hooves disturbed. This may be the reason for such a hasty egg drop off in another’s nest – they never stayed long in one place. 

Because of this behavior, the cowbird is considered a “parasitic” bird.