Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

Named for following cattle, a name first recorded in 1839. Its scientific name, Molothrus ater, is a darker story: ater means 'dull black,' and Molothrus is built from Greek words for 'struggle' and 'to father.'

Molothrus combines Greek mōlos, 'struggle,' and thrōskō, 'to sire'; ater means 'dull black.'