Brown-headed Cowbird

The Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater, is an interesting bird.  They are a nuisance around the feeders because they are usually found in groups and they can clean out the feeders quickly.  They are also a parasite bird, in that they lay their eggs in the nest of another species and don't have anything to do with the resultant babies.  It is not unusual to see a Bluebird feeding a Brown-headed Cowbird juvenile half again larger in size than herself.  The males have the distinct brown head and the female is a fairly plain light brown with light streaks on its breast.