Photo: Alastair Rae / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) is a member of the Icteridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 182 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 oryzivorus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 182 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
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Vulnerable
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Giant Cowbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Giant Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) is a member of the Icteridae family, within the order Passeriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA e Mexico through n SA.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 182 g, with a wing length of about 17.4 cm and a tail of around 13.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.9 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Giant Cowbird?
The Giant Cowbird is a large bird that weighs around 182 g.
Where does the Giant Cowbird live?
The Giant Cowbird is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA e Mexico through n SA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Giant Cowbird belong to?
The Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Giant Cowbird eat?
The Giant Cowbird is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Giant Cowbird migrate?
The Giant Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Giant 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 Giant Cowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Giant 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 Giant Cowbird's range?
The Giant Cowbird has a mapped global range of about 10.9 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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