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Cowbird
Adult male--Lustrous black with metallic sheen; head, neck, and upper part of breast snuff colour.
Adult female--Dull brown, lightest on the throat. Length--7.90.
Breeding Range--Throughout the Eastern States; rare in the higher parts of Massachusetts.
The eggs, which are invariably laid in the nests of other birds, are dull white, sprinkled more or less thickly with small brown and faint lilac spots. Number undermined. Size--.85 x .65. See Fig. 19, Plate D.
The Cowbird (named from the habit of perching on cattle) has, I fear, earned a bad reputation for herself, through the habit of laying her eggs in the nests of other birds. Why she does so is not known, but we can be certain there is some good reason for an act which seems entirely contrary to nature. The nest of almost any of the smaller birds is chosen, such as that of the yellow warbler, worm-eating warbler, blue-winged warbler, bluebird, and any of the sparrows or vireos. Minot thought that the eggs were not laid in the nest, but outside, and then carried to it. I have, however, seen the cowbird on the nest, and have every reason to believe she had laid her egg there.
Eggs are laid from about the middle of May.
Ilk happy bird, wee helpless thing,
That in the weary months o' spring
Delighted me to hear thee sing,
What's come o' thee?
Whare wilt thou cower thy chittering wing
And close thy e'e?