Christopher M. Goldade Meghan F. Dinkins Douglas H. Johnson Lawrence D. Igl Betty R. Euliss Jill A. Shaffer 2003 <p><span>The brown-headed cowbird (</span><i>Molothrus ater</i><span>) is an obligate brood parasite whose numbers have increased in recent decades to the potential detriment of the species that they parasitize. Thus, most management efforts focus on discouraging brown-headed cowbird parasitism or controlling brown-headed cowbird populations. Keys to discouraging cowbird parasitism or controlling populations of brown-headed cowbirds in the Great Plains are maintaining large expanses of grassland, eliminating foraging areas (e.g., feedlots) and perch sites, and reducing the extent of overgrazed pastures.</span></p> application/pdf en Prairie Naturalist Brown-headed cowbirds in grasslands: Their habitats, hosts, and response to management article