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Cowbird?

16 years ago

A few days ago at my work that morning I saw a tree full of these "black birds". They were making kind of a chirpping or tweeting sound. I couldnt see them that well at first, as the tree they were in had bunches of leaves. After a min. or so one flew down pretty close for me to see it. No noticeable field marks, dark grayish in color, small dark bill, body smaller than a mockingbird. I looked in my field guide and couldnt find any type of blackbird with this description. The female brownheaded cowbird seemed to be a pretty good match.

So are these blackbirds people have mistakenly called, more likely to be cowbirds instead?

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Comments (6)

rachel_frome_ky
16 years ago
No location listed on your MyPage but they could be migrating or flocking Red-winged, Brewer's, or Rusty Blackbirds-probably adults mixed with 1rst year birds
donald lucius
16 years ago
i get some cowbirds mixed in with the red wing blackbirds and they flock together and feed together. but here at least the cowbirds have a browner head and a black body not as shiny as the red wings. Also the cowbirds leave out earlier in the fall than the blackbirds do.
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Interesting. I knew Brown headed cowbirds could not be raised by Goldfinches because they feed their young seeds, but I didn't know House Finches did also. I looked it up at Cornell's lab of ornithology, and they confirm what you have read. I guess that means you don't have to worry about the young House Finches. I've also read about retaliation from the Cowbirds, so I guess just leaving it there should protect the baby House Finches best.
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The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a brood parasite.....bad bird for other species. Learn more here....http://nestwatch.org/learn/general-bird-nest-info/brown-headed-cowbirds/ and Here....http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/brown-headed-cowbird/
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I KNOW I would get rid of them immediately. Without a doubt. I've seen enough of warblers and others caring for these monsters while their babies die of starvation and neglect.
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mr.cro
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah, Im still trying to set this up. But my location was Meridian, MS. These birds weren't shiny just kinda dark gray all over with dark colored small bill.
ga_karen
16 years ago
Sounds very much like the brown headed cow birds I have been having problems with. I'm in SW Ga. and they evidently are migrating, but are in huge flocks (50+) and are taking over areas usually visited by my song birds & other locals that stay all year.
Firecrackers will help get them on their way to a different area...or a wooden spoon on an old pan.
donnalovesblue
16 years ago
Hey mr.cro....I'm also in Meridian so welcome neighbor! I get a few red winged blackbirds, but since we moved 2 yrs ago, I've not laid eyes on a cowbird...did have a few every now and then in our previous home.
mr.cro
Original Author
16 years ago
I got a better glimpse of those birds yesterday at the fire station. They're not cowbirds, the bill is too small. Still haven't positively identified the species, though.

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