Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Blackbirds and Orioles (Icteridae)

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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.

Bronzed Cowbird

Bronzed Cowbird: Small blackbird (aeneus), brown-black overall with blue sheen on wings and tail. Eyes are red and bill is dark and heavy. Feeds on insects, seeds and grains. Often follows cattle to eat insects that are kicked up. Swift direct and swooping flight with rapid wing beats.

● Song: "glug-glug-glee"

● Foraging & Feeding: Bronzed Cowbird: Eats insects and seeds; forages in flocks on the ground, sometimes turning over pebbles in search of food.

● Breeding & nesting: Bronzed Cowbird: Nest parasite; a single light blue green egg is laid in eight to ten nests of other species. Incubation ranges from 10 to 12 days and is carried out by the host species.

● Similar species: Bronzed Cowbird: Brown-headed Cowbird is black with glossy brown head; female Brown-headed is plain gray.

Flight Pattern

Swift somewhat swooping direct flight on rapidly beating wings.

Bronzed Cowbird (aeneus) Breeding Male Body Illustration

● Range & Habitat: Bronzed Cowbird: Breeds in Arizona, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas.

^BreedingPromiscuous, Polyandrous

^PopulationCommon but local

^MigrationMost migrate

^Weight2.4 Ounces

Field Guide to Birds of North America

Bronzed Cowbird

Bronzed Cowbird

Flight Pattern