Species Comparisons • Backyard Identification
Brown-headed Cowbird vs Common Myna
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird • Wikimedia Commons
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird • Wikimedia Commons
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird • Wikimedia Commons
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brown-headed Cowbird • Wikimedia Commons
Common Myna
Common Myna • Wikimedia Commons
Common Myna
Common Myna • Wikimedia Commons
Common Myna
Common Myna • Wikimedia Commons
Common Myna
Common Myna • Wikimedia Commons
Brown-headed Cowbird vs Common Myna (Molothrus ater vs Acridotheres tristis): The Complete Backyard Identification Guide
Field Summary
Quick Answer: The Fastest Way to Tell Them Apart
Two strutting lawn birds, native and introduced. Three rules:
- Bill and legs: dark = cowbird; bright yellow = myna.
- Wings: plain = cowbird; bold white patches in flight = myna.
- Range: anywhere = cowbird; Hawaii and South Florida = myna.
At-a-Glance Comparison Table
The native parasite and the introduced city bird, side by side. KEY rows separate fastest.
| Feature | Brown-headed Cowbird | Common Myna |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Molothrus ater | Acridotheres tristis |
| Length KEY | 7.5 in (19 cm) | 9.1 in (23 cm) |
| Wingspan | 14.2 in (36 cm) | 17 in (43 cm) |
| Weight | 1.5 oz (43 g) | 2.9–4.2 oz (82–120 g) |
| Overall Shape | North America’s famous brood parasite — it never builds a nest | A stocky brown bird with a black head, yellow bill and yellow skin patch behind the eye |
| Male Plumage KEY | Glossy black body with a rich chocolate-brown head; dark eye | Chocolate-brown body, black head, yellow bill and legs, white wing patches flashing in flight (sexes alike) |
| Female Plumage | Plain gray-brown all over with faint streaking; dark eye | Identical to the male |
| Bill Shape | Short, thick, conical | Stout, yellow |
| Tail | Medium, plain | Short, dark with white corners |
| Core Range KEY | Nearly continent-wide in open country — fields, pastures, feedlots | Introduced — Hawaii and South Florida in the U.S. |
| Migration | Partial migrant; big winter flocks with other blackbirds | Non-migratory; walks lawns and parking lots in strutting style |
| Feeder Presence | Ground and platform feeders — millet, cracked corn, sunflower chips | Takes pet food, scraps and fruit — bold around people |
| Favorite Foods | Seeds and insects, picked from the ground near livestock | Insects, fruit, scraps, pet food — a city omnivore |
| Song KEY | A liquid “glug-glug-glee” with gurgling notes | A varied, noisy collection of whistles, squawks and gurgles |
| Flight Call | A high “chuck” and thin whistles | Loud “kwaahh” and chattering scolds |
| Population Trend | Stable; followed cattle and clearing across the continent | Established and spreading slowly in South Florida; abundant in Hawaii |
Male Field Marks, Side by Side
Brown-headed Cowbird — Male
Molothrus ater
- Glossy black body, chocolate-brown head.
- Liquid gurgling song from a fence post.
- Follows cattle and mowers for stirred-up insects.
Common Myna — Male
Acridotheres tristis
- Brown body, black head, yellow bill and legs.
- White wing patches flash in flight.
- Struts lawns like it owns them.
Female & Juvenile Marks, Side by Side
Brown-headed Cowbird — Female
Molothrus ater
- Plain gray-brown — looks like a large sparrow.
- Lays her eggs in other birds’ nests — dozens per season.
- Never builds a nest of her own.
Common Myna — Female
Acridotheres tristis
- Identical to the male.
- Nests in cavities, building eaves and signs.
- Pairs stay together all year.
Part-by-Part Anatomy Breakdown
Every part offers a check:
| Body Part | Brown-headed Cowbird | Common Myna |
|---|---|---|
| Male | Black body, chocolate-brown head | Brown body, black head |
| Bill | Short, dark, conical | Stout, yellow |
| Legs | Dark | Bright yellow |
| Wings | Plain | Bold white patches flashing in flight |
| Face | Plain | Bare yellow skin behind the eye |
| Female | Plain gray-brown | Identical to the male |
| Range | Nearly continent-wide | Hawaii and South Florida only |
Song & Call Comparison
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Song: liquid gurgles rising into a high whistle — glug-glug-glee.
Calls: a sharp chuck and thin flight whistles.
Brown-headed Cowbird voice • Wikimedia Commons
Common Myna
Acridotheres tristis
Calls: loud kwaahh notes, chatters, whistles and squawks.
Behavior: noisy communal roosts at dusk.
Common Myna voice • Wikimedia Commons
Range & Seasonal Presence
The Brown-headed Cowbird lives nearly everywhere — any open country with livestock or lawns.
The Common Myna is an introduced Asian species established in Hawaii and South Florida — strutting resort lawns, parking lots and city parks. Within the U.S., location alone usually settles this ID.
Feeder Behavior & Favorite Foods
- Brown-headed Cowbird: millet and cracked corn at ground and platform feeders.
- Common Myna: pet food, fruit and scraps around buildings.
- Both thrive near people — one native and spreading with cattle, one introduced and spreading with cities.
- Nesting: the cowbird parasitizes; the myna commandeers cavities and nest boxes.
Temperament & Flock Behavior
Brown-headed Cowbirds are quiet — a gurgling display on a fence post, then back to grazing the lawn.
Common Mynas are loud and cocky — strutting with a rolling gait, squabbling noisily, roosting in raucous flocks.
6-Step Backyard ID Checklist
- Bill. Dark = cowbird; yellow = myna.
- Legs. Dark = cowbird; yellow = myna.
- Wings. Plain = cowbird; white patches = myna.
- Face. Plain = cowbird; yellow eye patch = myna.
- Location. Anywhere = cowbird; Hawaii/South Florida = myna.
- Voice. Liquid gurgles = cowbird; loud squawks = myna.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you tell a Brown-headed Cowbird from a Common Myna?
The myna has a yellow bill, yellow legs, a yellow skin patch behind the eye and white wing patches in flight. The cowbird is dark-billed and dark-legged — males black with a brown head, females plain gray-brown.
Where does the Common Myna live in the U.S.?
Hawaii (abundant) and South Florida (established and spreading). It is native to Asia and introduced nearly everywhere warm.
Is the Common Myna related to starlings?
Yes — mynas are members of the starling family, Sturnidae, sharing the strutting walk and omnivorous city habits.
Are both species considered pests?
Both can be — cowbirds parasitize songbird nests, and mynas evict native birds from nest cavities. Both also eat vast numbers of insects.
Which one mimics sounds?
The myna — like other starlings it learns whistles and odd sounds. Cowbirds stick to liquid gurgles and thin whistles.
Do they flock together?
Cowbirds mix with other blackbirds in winter flocks; mynas roost communally but usually among their own kind.
Key Takeaways
- Bill: Dark = cowbird; yellow = myna.
- Legs: Dark = cowbird; yellow = myna.
- Wings: Plain = cowbird; white patches = myna.
- Range: Continent-wide = cowbird; Hawaii/Florida = myna.
- Face: Plain = cowbird; yellow eye patch = myna.
- Family: Blackbird = cowbird; starling family = myna.