Marilyn's guide to Brown-headed Cowbirds

The Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) lives in North America, with the breeding distribution from New Brunswick to south-east alaska, and south into Texas and central Mexico.

Guys are a greenish-black with brown heads, while the gals are grayish with a black bill. They've got a high-pitched voice, and the gals tend to chatter. They'll eat insects from time to time, but usually seeds.

They're classified as brood parasites - that is, the gals will lay their eggs in other bird species' nests, and let them raise the littl'uns.

• They lay from 1 to seven eggs at a time, with four or five bein normal.
• The eggs hatch after about 10-13 days, and the young 'uns fly after 10-11 days
• The gals lay on average 40 eggs per breedin' season

Here's a male Brown-headed Cowbird fixin to get some action

Woo-hoo!!