166 PASSERES: Perching Birds 



YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD 



(497. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) 10 in. 



A large Blackbird, with yellow head, neck, and fore-breast, and 

 a clean white spot in wing; a narrow black area about base of 

 bill, extending behind eye, is visible at close range. Crown and 

 nape frequently "burnt orange." 



Female: Dusky brown, with dull yellow throat and breast. 

 Much smaller. 



Song: A guttural, almost frog-like croaking, uttered with 

 agonized contortions and flumng-out of feathers. 



DWARF COWBIRD 



(495a. Molothrus ater obscurus) 7| in. 



Male: Head and neck dark brown; otherwise glossy black with 

 greenish reflections. 



Female: Brownish gray, throat notably lighter. A dull, in- 

 conspicuous bird, in keeping with its shady nature. 



Bill short and thick, entirely unlike that of other members of 

 the Blackbird family occurring in our area. 



Lays in nests of other birds, usually of smaller species whose 

 own young are fairly smothered by the larger, young Cowbird. 



BRONZED COWBIRD See Appendix. 



(496a. Tangavius aeneus aeneus) 8 in. 



BREWER BLACKBIRD 



(510. Euphagus cyanocephalus) 9 in. 



Male: Head and neck purplish; all other parts glossy greenish 

 black. Iris creamy white. 



Female: Smaller. Brownish gray, darker above; wings and 

 tail dusky. Iris brown. 



Young males resemble females, the brown iris changing to 

 creamy as the juvenile coat is moulted in late summer. When 

 the first winter plumage is assumed, like adult male, but more or 

 less brown-tipped. 



Feeds almost entirely on insects when obtainable. 



