Some consider brown-headed cowbirds to be a threat.
However, food and water supplies may also attract birds you dont want, like the cowbird.
But is it really a backyard bird bully, or is the cowbird simply misunderstood?
Credit:SteveByland / Getty Images
We talked to Kevin Ellison, a former American Bird Conservancy Program Manager, to find out.
Kevin Ellisonis the former Northern Great Plains Program Manager for theAmerican Bird Conservancy.
What Is A Cowbird?
Female and juvenile cowbirds are mostly brown with cream-colored wing bars.
Centuries ago in North America, brown-headed cowbirds followed bison herds and were called buffalo birds by settlers.
The species quickly adapted to these changes and expanded its territory from the Great Plains to the entire continent.
What Makes Cowbirds A Threat?
All species of cowbirds are obligate brood parasites.
Should You Protect Nests From Cowbirds?
Cowbirds are kind of misunderstood as we project human morals onto nature, Ellison says of the species reputation.
Ellison says cowbirds are mainly drawn to short grass,birdseed feeders, and water.
Removing bird feeders could make your yard less attractive to cowbirds without driving away other species.
Plant More Trees
From a conservation perspective, larger forests are less permeable to cowbirds.
This is especially true for woods along rivers.
Basically, the more complex the habitat, the more birds can hide their nests from predators and cowbirds.
Keep the entrance hole to 1.5 inches in diameter to discourage cowbirds.
Sometimes the dull brown female cowbird can be confused with a catbird.
Catbirds are gray birds with pointier beaks and dark caps.
Catbirds make a nasal “meow” sound and mimic the songs of other birds.
California’s Invaders: Brown-Headed Cowbird.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Kirtlands Warbler No Longer Needs Protection from Brown-Headed Cowbird in Michigan.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
July 31, 2019.
