Uploaded December 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Many bird species lovingly care for their eggs and go to great lengths to protect them. Females may sit on a nest for weeks, while males work to protect the eggs and search for food. That said, several notorious bird species take a different approach. Instead of brooding their own eggs, these birds rely on other birds to hatch and raise their young. Here is a list of 5 birds that lay eggs in other birds’ nests.
5: Brown-headed Cowbird
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a small brood parasitic bird native to North America. It’s a member of the Icterid family of New World blackbirds and belongs to the genus Molothrus. While the genus includes five other species, the brown-headed cowbird is the type species for the genus. In ancient Greek, the genus name translated to “battle to impregnate,” which is certainly fitting. Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other small birds such as American robins, hummingbirds, and some raptors. While most brood parasites target one or a few species, brown-headed cowbirds take a more general approach. According to field research, they target the nests of up to 220 host species. This makes them one of the most prolific parasitic species known worldwide.
4: Indigobird
A native to Africa, the indigobird belongs to the Viduidae family of songbirds. In addition to the indigobirds, the Viduidae family includes fellow brood parasites the whydah and cuckoo-finch. Indigobirds generally appear finchlike, and most sport black or indigo coloring in their plumage. To distinguish an indigobird from a whydah, simply look at their tails. While male whydahs grow long tail feathers, male indigobirds do not. indigobirds lay their eggs in the nests of Old World finches. In particular, indigobirds tend to target estrildid finches as hosts. In general, indigobirds use fire finches as hosts, while whydahs prefer to target pytillas.
3: Honeyguide
Honeyguides range throughout southern Africa, the foothills of the Himalayas, and Malaysia. Also known as indicator birds or honey birds, honeyguides get their name from unusual behavior. These tiny, dull-colored birds purposefully lead humans to beehives so they can get to their favorite foods – beeswax, and grubs. So far, of the 17 species of honeyguide, only the greater honeyguide is known to exhibit this behavior. On the other hand, evidence suggests that half of all honeyguides are brood parasites. They specifically target birds like white-eyes, warblers, swallows, bee-eaters, barbets, and starlings.
2: Black-headed Duck
The black-headed duck hails from the swamps and lakes of Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. It belongs to the Anatidae family, but so far ranks as the only member of its genus, Heteronetta. Unlike the closely related stiff-tailed duck, black-headed ducks sport a soft tail and flat bill. The species gets its name from the male, which grows black feathers on its head and mantle. While relatively small and plain-looking, black-headed duck females possess plenty of guts. Rather than building a nest, they will instead lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. They target pochards, coots, and ducks, although they will also occasionally use the nests of gulls and some raptors.
1: Common Cuckoo
The common cuckoo is easily one of the most well-known and studied brood parasitic bird species. It belongs to the cuckoo family, which includes roadrunners, coucals, koels, couas, malkohas, and anis. Common cuckoos range throughout Asia and Europe and migrate to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia for the winter. Their name comes from the distinctive, onomatopoeic calls made by the males. Males typically appear entirely grey, while females may look grey with pink highlights or reddish-brown. With their hawkish appearance, common cuckoos rely on mimicry to help them target the nests of host birds. By posing as a predator like the European sparrowhawk, females can get access to a host’s nest to lay their eggs. Using this tactic, they invade the nests of over 100 different host species including warblers, redstarts, pipits, robins, and dunnocks.
Many bird species lovingly care for their eggs and go to great lengths to protect them. Females may sit on a nest for weeks, while males work to protect the eggs and search for food. That said, several notorious bird species take a different approach. Instead of brooding their own eggs, these birds rely on other birds to hatch and raise their young. Here is a list of 5 birds that lay eggs in other birds’ nests.
5: Brown-headed Cowbird
The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a small brood parasitic bird native to North America. It’s a member of the Icterid family of New World blackbirds and belongs to the genus Molothrus. While the genus includes five other species, the brown-headed cowbird is the type species for the genus. In ancient Greek, the genus name translated to “battle to impregnate,” which is certainly fitting. Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other small birds such as American robins, hummingbirds, and some raptors. While most brood parasites target one or a few species, brown-headed cowbirds take a more general approach. According to field research, they target the nests of up to 220 host species. This makes them one of the most prolific parasitic species known worldwide.
4: Indigobird
A native to Africa, the indigobird belongs to the Viduidae family of songbirds. In addition to the indigobirds, the Viduidae family includes fellow brood parasites the whydah and cuckoo-finch. Indigobirds generally appear finchlike, and most sport black or indigo coloring in their plumage. To distinguish an indigobird from a whydah, simply look at their tails. While male whydahs grow long tail feathers, male indigobirds do not. indigobirds lay their eggs in the nests of Old World finches. In particular, indigobirds tend to target estrildid finches as hosts. In general, indigobirds use fire finches as hosts, while whydahs prefer to target pytillas.
3: Honeyguide
Honeyguides range throughout southern Africa, the foothills of the Himalayas, and Malaysia. Also known as indicator birds or honey birds, honeyguides get their name from unusual behavior. These tiny, dull-colored birds purposefully lead humans to beehives so they can get to their favorite foods – beeswax, and grubs. So far, of the 17 species of honeyguide, only the greater honeyguide is known to exhibit this behavior. On the other hand, evidence suggests that half of all honeyguides are brood parasites. They specifically target birds like white-eyes, warblers, swallows, bee-eaters, barbets, and starlings.
2: Black-headed Duck
The black-headed duck hails from the swamps and lakes of Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. It belongs to the Anatidae family, but so far ranks as the only member of its genus, Heteronetta. Unlike the closely related stiff-tailed duck, black-headed ducks sport a soft tail and flat bill. The species gets its name from the male, which grows black feathers on its head and mantle. While relatively small and plain-looking, black-headed duck females possess plenty of guts. Rather than building a nest, they will instead lay their eggs in the nests of other birds. They target pochards, coots, and ducks, although they will also occasionally use the nests of gulls and some raptors.
1: Common Cuckoo
The common cuckoo is easily one of the most well-known and studied brood parasitic bird species. It belongs to the cuckoo family, which includes roadrunners, coucals, koels, couas, malkohas, and anis. Common cuckoos range throughout Asia and Europe and migrate to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia for the winter. Their name comes from the distinctive, onomatopoeic calls made by the males. Males typically appear entirely grey, while females may look grey with pink highlights or reddish-brown. With their hawkish appearance, common cuckoos rely on mimicry to help them target the nests of host birds. By posing as a predator like the European sparrowhawk, females can get access to a host’s nest to lay their eggs. Using this tactic, they invade the nests of over 100 different host species including warblers, redstarts, pipits, robins, and dunnocks.
