This is intriguing. I wonder which host species might have reared such an
early bird? Clark's Nutcracker is one of the few winter breeders, with
February 18 being the earliest egg date for Montana, and March 9 for BC for
example. Pine Siskin is March 19. Red Crossbill, March 18.

Then there is Rock Pigeon. However, neither Rock Pigeon, which can breed
in all 12 months, nor Clark's Nutcracker are on the list of known hosts.

The list of Brown-headed Cowbird host species is at least 172 long.

ANATIDAE
Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors
Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
PHASIANIDAE; TETRAONINAE
Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido
ACCIPITRIDAE
Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis
RALLIDAE
Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola
CHARADRIIDAE
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
SCOLOPACIDAE
Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia
Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
LARIDAE
California Gull, Larus californicus
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
COLUMBIDAE
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove, Columbina passerina
CUCULIDAE
Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythrophthalmus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus
TROCHILIDAE
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus
colubris
PICIDAE
Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes
erythrocephalus
TYRANNIDAE; FLUVICOLINAE
* Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi U
* Western Wood-Pewee, Contopus sordidulus
* Eastern Wood-Pewee, Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
* Acadian Flycatcher, Empidonax virescens
* Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum
* Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus
Hammond's Flycatcher, Empidonax hammondii
* Gray Flycatcher, Empidonax wrightii
* Dusky Flycatcher, Empidonax oberholseri
* Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
* Cordilleran Flycatcher, Empidonax
occidentalis
Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Empidonax fulvifrons
Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
* Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
Say's Phoebe, Sayornis saya
* Vermilion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus
TYRANNIDAE; TYRANNINAE
Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
Cassin's Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
* Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
* Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
* Gray Kingbird, Tyrannus dominicensis
* Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus forficatus
LANIIDAE
* Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
VIREONIDAE
Slaty Vireo, Vireo brevipennis
* White-eyed Vireo, Vireo griseus
Flat-billed Vireo, Vireo nanus
* Bell's Vireo, Vireo bellii
* Black-capped Vireo, Vireo atricapilla
* Gray Vireo, Vireo vicinior
* Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons
* Plumbeus Vireo, Vireo plumbeus
* Cassin's Vireo, Vireo cassinii
* Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius
* Hutton's Vireo, Vireo huttoni
* Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus
* Philadelphia Vireo, Vireo philadelphicus
* Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Yellow-green Vireo, Vireo flavoviridis
* Black-whiskered Vireo, Vireo altiloquus
CORVIDAE
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
ALAUDIDAE
* Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris
HIRUNDINIDAE
Purple Martin, Progne subis
* Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia
Cliff Swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
* Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
PARIDAE
* Carolina Chickadee, Poecile carolinensis
* Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
* Mountain Chickadee, Poecile gambeli
Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
Black-crested Titmouse, Baeolophus atricristatus
REMIZIDAE
* Verdin, Auriparus flaviceps
AEGITHALIDAE
* Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus
SITTIDAE
* Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
Brown-headed Nuthatch, Sitta pusilla
CERTHIDAE
* Brown Creeper, Certhia familiaris
TROGLODYTIDAE
Boucard's Wren, Campylorhynchus jocosus
* Rock Wren, Salpinctes obsoletus
* Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
* Bewick's Wren, Thryomanes bewickii
* House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris
* Sedge Wren, Cistothorus platensis
REGULIDAE
* Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
* Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
POLIOPTILIDAE
* Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
* California Gnatcatcher, Polioptila californica V
* Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, Polioptila melanura V
* Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Polioptila nigriceps
White-lored Gnatcatcher, Polioptila albiloris
TURDIDAE
* Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
* Western Bluebird, Sialia mexicana
* Mountain Bluebird, Sialia currucoides
* Townsend's Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
* Veery, Catharus fuscescens
* Swainson's Thrush, Catharus ustulatus
* Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
* Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina
* American Robin, Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius
TIMALIIDAE
* Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata
MIMIDAE
* Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
* Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Sage Thrasher, Oreoscoptes montanus
* Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
Long-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma longirostre
Bendire's Thrasher, Toxostoma bendirei
Curve-billed Thrasher, Toxostoma curvirostre
STURNIDAE
* European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
MONTACILLIDAE
* Sprague's Pipit, Anthus spragueii
BOMBYCILLIDAE
Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
* Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
PTILOGONATIDAE
* Phainopepla, Phainopepla nitens
PEUCEDRAMIDAE
* Olive Warbler, Peucedramus taeniatus
CALCARIIDAE
McCown's Longspur, Rhynchophanes mccownii W4
* Chestnut-collared Longspur, Calcarius ornatus
PARULIDAE D3
* Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla
* Worm-eating Warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum
* Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia
noveboracensisW
* Louisiana Waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla W
* Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera v2
* Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
* Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia
* Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea
* Swainson's Warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii
* Tennessee Warbler, Oreothlypis peregrina D2
* Orange-crowned Warbler, Oreothlypis celata D2
* Nashville Warbler, Oreothlypis ruficapilla D2
* Virginia's Warbler, Oreothlypis virginiae D2
* Lucy's Warbler, Oreothlypis luciae D2
Gray-crowned Yellowthroat, Geothlypis poliocephala
* MacGillivray's Warbler, Geothlypis tolmiei
* Mourning Warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia
* Kentucky Warbler, Geothlypis formosa
* Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
* Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina
* American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
* Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga kirtlandii
* Cape May Warbler, Setophaga tigrina
* Cerulean Warbler, Setophaga cerulea
* Northern Parula, Setophaga americana
* Topical Parula, Setophaga pitiayumi
* Magnolia Warbler, Setophaga magnolia
* Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanea
* Blackburnian Warbler, Setophaga fusca
* Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia (aestiva
group)
* Chestnut-sided Warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica
* Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata
* Black-throated Blue Warbler, Setophaga
caerulescens
* Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum
* Pine Warbler, Setophaga pinus
* Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata
* Yellow-throated Warbler, Setophaga dominica
* Prairie Warbler, Setophaga discolor
* Grace's Warbler, Setophaga graciae
* Black-throated Gray Warbler, Setophaga
nigrescens
* Townsend's Warbler, Setophaga townsendi
* Hermit Warbler, Setophaga occidentalis
* Golden-cheeked Warbler, Setophaga chrysoparia
* Black-throated Green Warbler, Setophaga virens
* Canada Warbler, Cardellina canadensis
* Wilson's Warbler, Cardellina pusilla
* Red-faced Warbler, Cardellina rubrifrons
Painted Redstart, Myioborus pictus
* Yellow-breasted Chat, Icteria virens
EMBERIZIDAE
White-collared Seedeater, Sporophila torqueola
Olive Sparrow, Arremonops rufivirgatus
Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow, Melozone kieneri
* Canyon Towhee, Melozone fusca C2
* California Towhee, Melozone crissalis C2
* Abert's Towhee, Melozone aberti C2
* Green-tailed Towhee, Pipilo chlorurus
* Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
* Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
* Rufous-winged Sparrow, Peucaea carpalis W2
Botteri's Sparrow, Peucaea botterii W2
Cassin's Sparrow, Peucaea cassinii W2
* Bachman's Sparrow, Peucaea aestivalis W2
* Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Aimophila ruficeps
* Five-striped Sparrow, Amphispiza
quinquestriata W3
* Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
* Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida
* Brewer's Sparrow, Spizella breweri
* Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla
Black-chinned Sparrow, Spizella atrogularis
* Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
* Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
* Black-throated Sparrow, Amphispiza bilineata
Sage Sparrow, Amphispiza belli
* Lark Bunting, Calamospiza melanocorys
* Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
* Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus
savannarum
* Baird's Sparrow, Ammodramus bairdii
Henslow's Sparrow, Ammodramus henslowii
* LeConte's Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii
* Nelson's Sparrow, Ammodramus nelsoni
* Seaside Sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus
* Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
* Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
* Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii
* Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
* White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
* White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
* Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
CARDINALIDAE
* Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra
* Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea
* Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana
* Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Pyrrhuloxia, Cardinalis sinuatus
* Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus
ludovicianus
* Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus
melanocephalus
* Blue Grosbeak, Passerina caerulea C
* Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena
* Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
* Varied Bunting, Passeria veriscolor
* Painted Bunting, Passeria ciris
* Dickcissel, Spiza americana
ICTERIDAE
* Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus
* Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Tricolored Blackbird, Agelaius tricolor
* Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella [Sturnella] magna
* Western Meadowlark, Sturnella [Sturnella] neglecta
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus
xanthocephalus
Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
* Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
* Orchard Oriole, Icterus [spurius] spurius
* Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus
Altamira Oriole, Icterus gularis
Audubon's Oriole, Icterus graduacauda
* Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
* Bullock's Oriole, Icterus bullockii
Scott's Oriole, Icterus parisorum
FRINGILLIDAE; CARDUELINAE
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte
tephrocotis
* Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus
* House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
Cassin's Finch, Carpodacus cassinii
Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
Common Redpoll, Acanthis flammea
Pine Siskin, Spinus pinus 29A
Lesser Goldfinch, Spinus psaltria 29B
Lawrence's Goldfinch, Spinus lawrencei
American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis 29C
Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus 29D
PASSERIDAE
* House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Reference:
http://fieldmuseum.org/sites/default/files/Molothrus-02sep2011.pdf



Scott Ray

Yakima, WA


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Martin Muller <martinmuller at msn.com>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Cc:
Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2014 22:51:31 -0800
Subject: [Tweeters] First of Year Brown-headed Cowbird
Three weeks earlier than last year, today (Friday February 28) I spotted a
male Brown-headed Cowbird in our back yard (Crown Hill north of Ballard in
Seattle).
Mixed feelings.....

Martin Muller
martinmuller at msn.com


Scott .-. .- -.--
WC7A

Yakima, W
A
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