Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyIcteridae (Ictèrids)
- GenusMolothrus (Cowbirds)
- SpeciesMolothrus bonariensis (Shiny Cowbird)
The shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a passerine bird in the New World family Icteridae. It breeds in most of South America except for dense forests and areas of high altitude such as mountains. Since 1900 the shiny cowbird's range has shifted northward, and it was recorded in the Caribbean islands as well as the United States, where it is found breeding in southern Florida. It is a bird associated with open habitats, including disturbed land from agriculture and deforestation. Adults are sexually dimorphic. Males are all black with a purple-blue iridescence. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Cahuita National Park
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Cacicus uropygialis
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Psarocolius wagleri
Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Black-cowled Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Yellow-billed Cacique
Amblycercus holosericeus
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Western Slaty-Antshrike
Thamnophilus atrinucha
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Shiny Cowbird at Cahuita National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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