Photo: SearchNet Media from Tucson, Arizona, USA / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 62.6 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Passeriformes
- Family Icteridae Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds
- Genus Molothrus
- Species aeneus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.6 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bronzed Cowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Bronzed Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. It is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA sw USA to Panama.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.6 g, with a wing length of about 10.5 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bronzed Cowbird?
The Bronzed Cowbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.6 g.
Where does the Bronzed Cowbird live?
The Bronzed Cowbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA sw USA to Panama, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Bronzed Cowbird belong to?
The Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Bronzed Cowbird eat?
The Bronzed Cowbird is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Bronzed Cowbird migrate?
The Bronzed Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bronzed Cowbird endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Bronzed Cowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Bronzed Cowbird — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bronzed Cowbird's range?
The Bronzed Cowbird has a mapped global range of about 2.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
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