Photo: Cláudio Dias Timm from Rio Grande do Sul / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Screaming Cowbird
Molothrus rufoaxillaris
Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) — Songbirds & Perching Birds of South America.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) is a member of the Icteridae family found in South America. Adults weigh 47.5 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 rufoaxillaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 47.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Urban & human-modified
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Screaming Cowbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of farmland, parks and gardens, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Screaming Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) belongs to the Icteridae family of the order Passeriformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA s Bolivia and s Brazil to ec Argentina.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 47.5 g, with a wing length of about 11.4 cm and a tail of around 8.5 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 4.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Screaming Cowbird?
The Screaming Cowbird is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 47.5 g.
Where does the Screaming Cowbird live?
The Screaming Cowbird is found across South America with a range covering SA s Bolivia and s Brazil to ec Argentina, where it adapts readily to towns, parks and gardens.
What family does the Screaming Cowbird belong to?
The Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Screaming Cowbird eat?
The Screaming Cowbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Screaming Cowbird migrate?
The Screaming Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Screaming 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 Screaming Cowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Screaming 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 Screaming Cowbird's range?
The Screaming Cowbird has a mapped global range of about 4.7 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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