Brown-headed Cowbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Molothrus ater

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Banff National Park
700 Verified records at Banff National Park
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) is a small, obligate brood parasitic icterid native to temperate and subtropical North America. It is a permanent resident in the southern parts of its range; northern birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico in winter, returning to their summer habitat around March or April. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-headed Cowbird sighting in Banff National Park, based on 700 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
<5
Feb
<5
Mar
<5
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
10–20
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
60–70%
2 Badlands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
30–40%
3 Elk Island National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
20–30%
4 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
5 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
6 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
7 Shenandoah National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
8 Yosemite National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
9 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
10 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
11 Riding Mountain National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
12 Great Smoky Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
13 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
14 Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
15 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
16 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
17 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
18 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
19 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
20 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
21 Grand Canyon National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
22 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
23 Guadalupe Mountains National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
24 Zion National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
25 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
26 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
5–10%
27 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
28 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
29 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
30 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
31 Voyageurs National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
32 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
33 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
34 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
35 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
36 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
37 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
38 Isle Royale National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
39 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
40 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Brown-headed Cowbird in Banff National Park?

About 18% of wildlife watchers report a Brown-headed Cowbird sighting in Banff National Park, based on 700 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Brown-headed Cowbird in Banff National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Brown-headed Cowbird in Banff National Park in our monthly data.

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