What kind of bird is all black with a brown head?

Brown-headed Cowbird
The Brown-headed Cowbird is well known–and widely disliked–for its practice of laying eggs in the nests of other species. Males are black birds with dull brown heads. Adult males are shiny black, while first-year males are duller black.

What kind of black birds are in Oklahoma?

There are many different species of blackbirds, including the Red-Winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Great-Tailed Grackle, Brown-Headed Cowbird, Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird and Rusty Blackbird. The Red-Winged Blackbird and Common Grackle are the most prevalent.

Are brown-headed cowbirds bad?

Its spread has represented bad news for other songbirds: Cowbirds lay their eggs in nests of other birds. Heavy parasitism by cowbirds has pushed some species to the status of “endangered” and has probably hurt populations of some others.

Can you get rid of brown-headed cowbirds?

To deter Brown-headed Cowbirds: Use feeders that are made for smaller birds, such as tube feeders that have short perches, smaller ports, and no catch basin on the bottom. Cowbirds prefer sunflower seeds, cracked corn, and millet; offer nyjer seeds, suet, nectar, whole peanuts, or safflower seeds instead.

Are cowbirds good for anything?

Backyard Tips. Even though Brown-headed Cowbirds are native to North America, many people consider them a nuisance bird, since they destroy the eggs and young of smaller songbirds and have been implicated in the decline of several endangered species, including Kirtland’s Warbler and Black-capped Vireo.

What is the largest bird in Oklahoma?

Ferruginous Hawk
The Ferruginous Hawk is the largest Buteo hawk we have, at 23 inches. It is brown on the back and whitish on the breast with some streaks on the flank. The tail may have a suggestion of red, but not as red as a Red-tailed Hawk. The tell-tale mark is legs with brown feathers down to the toes.

What bad reputation do cowbirds have?

Cowbirds are fascinating to many for having maybe the most unusual breeding biology of any bird on the continent, yet reviled by many more for their reputation as “cheats” with poor family values.

Are cowbirds bullies?

The cowbird is large and aggressive enough to take over the bird feeder and chase songbirds away, but its bullying habits don’t stop there. The cowbird lays its eggs in nests of other, smaller birds and depends on these birds to raise its young.

Are cowbirds good birds?

How do I get rid of cowbirds?

How To Get Rid Of Cowbirds

Use tube bird feeders that have a shorter perch and smaller ports for the seed.
Feed the birds thistle/nyger, safflower seed, whole peanuts, or suet.
Eliminate cracked corn, sunflower seeds, and millet from your feeders unless you have a smaller feeder that the Cowbirds are unable use.