Some consider brown-headed cowbirds to be a threat.

Many species of birds get reputations of various sorts. One species that gets a bad rap, through no fault of its own, is the brown-headed cowbird. The female cowbird lays its eggs in the nests of ...

Brown-headed cowbirds are hard to love. They aren’t pretty or melodious. And worst of all, they’re deadbeat parents, tricking other birds into rearing their young. Many people regard them as villains.

Bird's nest with offspring in early summer. Eggs and chicks of a small bird. Starling. Feeds the chicks.© alexkich/Shutterstock.com Brown-headed cowbird chicks have a distinct evolutionary advantage, ...