I am somewhat isolated in my affection for the Brown-headed Cowbird, a very common species found throughout nearly all of temperate and subtropical North America, south deep into Mexico. Northern birds are migratory. They are members of the blackbird family, Icteridae, which is confined to the western hemisphere, and includes what are called orioles, meadowlarks, grackles, Bobolinks, caciques, and troupials. Dislike of cowbirds derives from the fact that they lay their eggs in the nests of any of a wide range of other species, usually smaller birds, and those eggs hatch to produce sturdy nestlings who evict the nest-builder’s own eggs or babies. Thus, for virtually every cowbird you see, a clutch of baby birds of another species perished. The cowbirds don’t simply forget their own eggs, but seem to keep watch on them, and will even ravage the nest if the host does not brood the egg, as if taking revenge. Adult male cowbirds are a deep steel-blue-black colour, quite iridescent in the sunlight, with bronzy iridescence to their brown heads. The female is a more subdued grey colour overall, although with subtle patterning.  Young birds are similar to the females but with streakier, and lighter, overall. The painting is approximately life size.