Brown-headed Cowbird look-alikes
Molothrus ater
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Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Brown-headed Cowbird. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Key differences
Bronzed Cowbirds are larger, males have red eyes and a shaggy neck ruff, and their plumage has a bronze sheen rather than iridescent black. Females are darker than Brown-headed Cowbird females. Their range is more southerly.
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
Key differences
Rusty Blackbirds are larger with a longer, thinner bill and pale yellow eyes. Males are glossy black with a greenish sheen, and in winter, they show rusty feather edgings. Females are duller gray. They prefer wet, forested habitats.
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Key differences
Brewer's Blackbirds are larger with pale yellow eyes. Males are glossy black with a purplish sheen on the head and greenish on the body. Females are duller gray-brown. They have a longer tail and a more upright posture than cowbirds.
Female Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Key differences
Female Red-winged Blackbirds are heavily streaked brown and white, especially on the underparts, and often show a yellowish wash on the face and throat, sometimes with a hint of red on the shoulder. Brown-headed Cowbird females are more uniformly grayish-brown with faint streaking.
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