Cowbird

Cowbird
Cowbirds
Female Brown-headed Cowbird
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Icteridae
Genus: Molothrus
Swainson, 1832
Species

Cowbirds are birds belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae. They are brood parasitic New World birds which are unrelated to the Old World cuckoos, one of which, the Common Cuckoo, is the best-known brood parasitic bird.

Contents

Known types

This family includes five species of cowbirds that form the natural genus Molothrus. This has been determined by phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences (Lanyon 1992, Johnson and Lanyon 1999, Lanyon and Omland 1999, in Lowther, 2004).

The genus Molothrus contains:

The non-brood parasitic Bay-winged Cowbird was formerly placed in this genus; it is now Agelaioides badius.

Behavior

These birds feed on insects, including the large numbers that may be stirred up by cattle. In order for the birds to remain mobile and stay with the herd, they have adapted by laying their eggs in other birds' nests. The cowbird will watch for when its host lays eggs, and when the nest is left unattended, the female will come in and lay its own eggs. The female cowbird may continue to observe the nest after laying her eggs. If the cowbird egg is removed, the female cowbird may destroy the host's eggs.[1]

The Brown-Headed Cowbird

The Brown-headed Cowbird has over 220 hosts.[2] The other cowbird species have fewer known hosts, but all the species are generalists when it comes to choosing a host. This means that the eggs may look different from the hosts' eggs. The cowbird chicks grow quickly, and may consume most of the food the host brings. Starvation will often kill the host's chicks. In some species the cowbird chick will use its large size to push the other chicks out of the nest. The Giant Cowbird does not appear to harm its host oropendola or cacique chicks.

  • Brown-headed Cowbird, adult male

  • Brown-headed Cowbird, courtship behavior

Cowbirds in popular culture

  • A pair of cowbirds appeared as recurring villains in the comic strip Pogo, by Walt Kelly.

References

  1. ^ Jeffrey P. Hoover; Scott K. Robinson (13 March 2007). "Retaliatory mafia behavior by a parasitic cowbird favors host acceptance of parasitic eggs". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. http://www.pnas.org/content/104/11/4479.abstract. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 
  2. ^ Friedmann, Herbert; LLoyd E. Kiff and Stephen I. Rothstein (1977). "A further Contribution to knowledge of the Host Relations of the Parasitic Cowbirds.". The Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution Press. http://si-pddr.si.edu/dspace/handle/10088/5409. Retrieved 26 August 2009. 

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cowbird — Cow bird ( b[ e]rd ), n. (Zo[ o]l.) The cow blackbird ({Molothrus ater}), an American starling. Like the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds; so called because frequently associated with cattle. [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cowbird — ☆ cowbird [kou′bʉrd΄ ] n. any of a number of small American blackbirds (esp. Molothrus ater) often seen near cattle: cowbirds lay eggs in other birds nests …   English World dictionary

  • cowbird — /kow berrd /, n. any of several New World blackbirds of the genus Molothrus, esp. M. ater, of North America, that accompany herds of cattle. [1795 1805, Amer.; COW1 + BIRD] * * * Any of six passerine species related to New World blackbirds… …   Universalium

  • cowbird — noun an American songbird with dark plumage, most kinds of which lay their eggs in other birds nests. [Molothrus ater (brown headed cowbird) and related species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • cowbird — karvapaukščiai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Molothrus angl. cowbird vok. Kuhstärling, m rus. коровий трупиал, m pranc. vacher à, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – trupialiniai siauresnis terminas – amazoninis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • cowbird — noun Date: 1810 any of a genus (Molothrus of the family Icteridae) of New World blackbirds that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds; especially one (M. ater) widespread in the United States and southern Canada in which the male is black… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cowbird — noun A small North American blackbird (Molothrus ater) that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds …   Wiktionary

  • cowbird — n. blackbird which is often found near cattle …   English contemporary dictionary

  • cowbird — cow•bird [[t]ˈkaʊˌbɜrd[/t]] n. orn any blackbird of the genera Molothrus and Schapidura, noted for their brood parasitism, esp. the common North American species M. ater[/ex] • Etymology: 1795–1805, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • cowbird — /ˈkaʊbɜd/ (say kowberd) noun any of the American blackbirds of the genus Molothrus, especially M. ater of North America (so called because they accompany cattle). Also, cow blackbird, cow bunting …  

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