Birds of the World


Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus aeneus) Range: NA, MA: sw USA to Panama Rancho Margot, Costa Rica
Photograph by Tom Friedel © All Rights Reserved.


Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus loyei) Female Range: NA, MA: sw USA to Panama Arizona, United States A brown subspecies 'loyei' female.
Photograph by Alan Schmierer Image has been placed in the Public Domain.

Female dull black, except for in United States and part of Mexico where it is brown. Brood parasite.


Bronze-brown Cowbird (Molothrus armenti) Near Threatened Range: SA: Colombia Colombia
Photograph by Avery Bartels © All Rights Reserved.

Split from the similar Bronzed Cowbird of Central America, and only found in coastal mangrove habitat in north Colombia. Note red eyes, and black color like Bronzed Cowbird but with bluish wings and tail.


Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) Range: NA, MA: s Canada to s Mexico Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Photograph by Tom Friedel © All Rights Reserved.


Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis bonariensis) Male Range: NA, SA: se USA (rare), Caribbean, Costa Rica to c Chile and sc Argentina Argentina
Photograph by Tom Friedel © All Rights Reserved.


Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis bonariensis) Female Range: NA, SA: se USA (rare), Caribbean, Costa Rica to c Chile and sc Argentina Agua Dulces, Rocha, Uruguay
Photograph by Tom Friedel © All Rights Reserved.

Widespread and common in open areas and near livestock. Cowbirds lay eggs in the nests of other species such as sparrows. The female ranges in color from almost black to grey and light brown across its large range.
A large Shiny Cowbird baby begging a its surrogate parent, a tiny and probably exhausted [Rufous-collared Sparrow], for food. Many species of Cuckoos lay eggs in the nests of other species.


Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus oryzivorus) Range: MA, SA: e Mexico through n SA ProAves Tangaras Reserve, El Carmen de Atrato, Choco, Colombia
Photograph by Tom Friedel © All Rights Reserved.

Giant Cowbirds are large blackbirds that lay eggs in oropendola nests and grow up with oropendola parents. A widespread but often difficult to find species. Note distinctive shape.


Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) Male Range: SA: s Bolivia and s Brazil to ec Argentina Islas del Ibicuy, Entre Rios, Argentina
Photograph by Gustavo Masuzzo © All Rights Reserved.

Similar to the Shiny Cowbird but less iridescent.