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Shiny Cowbird

Molothrus bonariensisOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

Breeding Location:

Grassland with scattered trees



Breeding Type:

Promiscuous



Breeding Population:

Rare to uncommon



Egg Color:

White to blue or pink with brown and gray marks



Number of Eggs:

1



Incubation Days:

11 - 12



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Uses nests of other species.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Overview

Shiny Cowbird: Small blackbird with purple sheen on head, back, breast. Eyes are dark. Black bill, legs, feet. Forages on ground, walking with tail cocked above back. Eats insects, caterpillars, seeds and rice. Swift direct flight on rapid wing beats. Travels alone or in small flocks.

Range and Habitat

Shiny Cowbird: Primarily a South American species, it spread through the West Indies and arrived in southern Florida in 1985. Casual from Texas to North Carolina. Accidental to Oklahoma, Maine, and Maritimes.

Breeding and Nesting

Shiny Cowbird: Nest parasite that lays one white to light blue or pink egg per nest in nests of other species. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out by the host species.

Foraging and Feeding

Shiny Cowbird: Eats insects and seeds; forages on the ground.

Vocalization

Shiny Cowbird: Series of bold musical bubbling warbles, sometimes interspersed with harsher piercing whistled notes and often followed by trills. Call is a harsh series of notes.

Similar Species

Shiny Cowbird: Brown-headed Cowbird has a glossy brown head; female is plain gray-brown.

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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family Meadowlark (Icteridae)_blue
Species Molothrus bonariensis
Length7.5 Inches
Wingspan12 Inches

Shiny Cowbird

Shiny Cowbird: Small blackbird with purple sheen on head, back, breast. Eyes are dark. Black bill, legs, feet. Forages on ground, walking with tail cocked above back. Eats insects, caterpillars, seeds and rice. Swift direct flight on rapid wing beats. Travels alone or in small flocks.

● Song: No data available.

● Foraging & Feeding: Shiny Cowbird: Eats insects and seeds; forages on the ground.

● Breeding & nesting: Shiny Cowbird: Nest parasite that lays one white to light blue or pink egg per nest in nests of other species. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out by the host species.

● Similar species: Shiny Cowbird: Brown-headed Cowbird has a glossy brown head; female is plain gray-brown.

Flight Pattern

Rapid swooping direct flight on quickly beating wings.
Shiny Cowbird Breeding Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Shiny Cowbird: Primarily a South American species, it spread through the West Indies and arrived in southern Florida in 1985. Casual from Texas to North Carolina. Accidental to Oklahoma, Maine, and Maritimes.
BreedingPromiscuous
PopulationRare to uncommon
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.4 Ounces