The common brown-headed cowbird is the most widespread brood parasite in North America. Poly­typic. Length 7.5". A smallish, compact and stocky blackbird with a short and thick-based bill ...

"Cowbirds look like a shiny iridescent blackbird with its head dipped in chocolate and have a unique ‘gloo-gloo-glee’ call that they make," Ellison says. Female and juvenile cowbirds are mostly brown ...