Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Shiny Cowbird
Vacher luisant
Molothrus bonariensis
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Life, Habitat and Pictures of North American Cowbirds
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5" 19cm | 11.5" 29.2cm | 1.3oz 36.8g | Icteridae | Molothrus bonariensis |
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
The Shiny Cowbird is the least common cowbird species seen in North America. Small numbers of these birds are seen in Florida throughout the year. This attractive cowbird is more likely to be seen in the West Indies and South America. This is a brood parasite much like all cowbirds, where the females lay their eggs in other bird species nests.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.
