Orioles, Meadowlarks and Blackbirds

Family: Icteridae

This family includes: Cowbirds, Meadowlarks, Blackbirds, Grackles, Orioles and Bobolinks.

There are 24 species in 8 genera of this family in North America. All icterids have slender, pointed bills and most have long tails. Most members of this family flock together when they are not breeding. They are often found in open areas such as farmlands, marshes, and pastures where they mainly feed on insects. The cowbird members of this family are brood parasites and do not build nests.