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Brown-headed cowbird
Molothrus ater
33.8164, -84.343
Field Notes
Description:
Some definite mating displays going on with these guys this morning. I tried to take a little vid but it's too shaky to put up.
Predominantly black plumage on the body with a brown head (male). Female birds are slightly smaller and are dull grey with a pale throat and fine streaking on the underparts.
Notes:
From wikipedia and references therein:
The brown-headed cowbird is an obligate brood parasite: it lays its eggs in the nests of other small passerines (perching birds), particularly those that build cup-like nests. The brown-headed cowbird eggs have been documented in nests of at least 220 host species, including hummingbirds and raptors. Unlike the common cuckoo, the brown-headed cowbird is not divided into gentes whose eggs imitate those of a particular host.
Some host species, such as the house finch, feed their young a vegetarian diet. This is unsuitable for young brown-headed cowbirds, meaning almost none survive to fledge
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