Birds · La Saladita, Guerrero

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

Spanish: Tordo cabeza café

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Photographed by paulmedrano on iNaturalist · CC-BY-NC

The brown-headed cowbird is a small, obligate brood parasitic icterid native to temperate and subtropical North America. It is a permanent resident in the southern parts of its range; northern birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico in winter, returning to their summer habitat around March or April. Most often recorded in May, Apr, Mar.

TaxonomyAves › Passeriformes › Icteridae
Local records3 research-grade observations within about 50 km of La Saladita (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones)
Global records108,940 on iNaturalist
Recorded here2019 – 2020
Months recorded near La Saladita
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Recent local sightings

Interactive card with more photos, sounds and similar species Birds guide iNaturalist Wikipedia

Cite as: “Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) at La Saladita”, La Saladita Field Guide, lasaladita.com/species/molothrus-ater/, updated 2026-09-26. Observation counts and months come from iNaturalist research-grade records within about 50 km of 17.8375°N, 101.7606°W (the survey box also takes in Zihuatanejo, Ixtapa and Troncones); summary text from Wikipedia where present.