PERCHING BIRDS 
their egg in the nest of some other bird from 
the size of a Robin down, probably the greater 
number being in Warblers 
and Sparrows nests; the 
eggs are hatched and the 
young cared for by the un- 
fortunate birds upon which 
they are thrust. The eggs 
are white, spotted and 
Whit e speckled all over, more or 
less strongly with brown and yellowish brown; 
size .85 x .64. 
495a. Dwarf Cowbird. Molothrus ater 
obscurus. 
Range. — Southwestern United States and 
Mexico, wintering south of our borders. 
This variety is like the last, but slightly 
smaller. The nesting habits of the two are 
identical and the eggs are indistinguishable. 
It is believed that Cowbirds do more damage to 
the smaller birds than all other dangers com- 
bined, as their young being larger and stronger 
either crowd or smother the other young or else 
of the food brought to the nest. 
Cowbird 
starve them by getting most 
Red-eyed Cowbird 
Light blue-green 
Tan gavius ceneus involucratus. 
Range. — Mexico; north in summer to the Lower Rio 
Grande in Texas. 
This parasite is larger than the Cowbird, being 9 inches 
long, and is glossy black with brassy reflections on the 
upper and under parts. They are abundant in southern 
Texas where they deposit their eggs in the nests of other 
birds, apparently preferring those of Orioles; their eggs 
are pale bluish green, unmarked; size .90 x .70. 
Yellow-headed Blackbird 
497. Yellow-headed Blackbird. 
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus . 
Range. — North America west of the Missis- 
sippi to eastern California, breeding from the 
southern parts of the United States north to 
British Columbia and Hudson Bay and winter- 
ing from southern United States downward. 
This large handsome 
Blackbird with bright yel- 
low head and breast is 
very abundant in some 
parts of the west, where 
they nest, in large colonies 
in sloughs and marshes, 
being especially abundant 
in the Dakotas and Mani- Gra y is h white 
toba. The nests are made of strips of rushes, 
skillfully woven together and attached to up- 
right cane near the surface of the water. They 
lay from four to six eggs having a grayish 
white ground color, finely specked and spotted 
with shades of brown and gray; sixe 1.00 x .70. 
315 
