Photo: Daniel Talevi / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) — 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 Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a member of the Icteridae family found in North America and South America. Adults weigh 41.5 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 bonariensis
Where it lives
Southeastern USA (rare), Caribbean, Costa Rica to central Chile and south-central Argentina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 41.5 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Icteridae
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Shiny Cowbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Shiny Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a species of bird in the Icteridae family, part of the order Passeriformes. It is found across North America and South America. Its distribution covers NA, SA se USA (rare), Caribbean, Costa Rica to c Chile and sc Argentina.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 41.5 g, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 8.3 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 13.2 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Shiny Cowbird?
The Shiny Cowbird is a small bird that weighs around 41.5 g.
Where does the Shiny Cowbird live?
The Shiny Cowbird is found across North America and South America with a range covering NA, SA se USA (rare), Caribbean, Costa Rica to c Chile and sc Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Shiny Cowbird belong to?
The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) belongs to the Icteridae family, in the order Passeriformes.
What does the Shiny Cowbird eat?
The Shiny Cowbird is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Shiny Cowbird migrate?
The Shiny Cowbird is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Shiny 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 Shiny Cowbird make?
1 real field recording of the Shiny Cowbird — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Shiny Cowbird's range?
The Shiny Cowbird has a mapped global range of about 13.2 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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