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 →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Shiny Cowbird sighting in Tayrona National Natural Park, based on 318 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tayrona National Natural Park
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Carib Grackle
Quiscalus lugubris
Orange-crowned Oriole
Icterus auricapillus
Yellow Oriole
Icterus nigrogularis
Crested Oropendola
Psarocolius decumanus
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Cacicus cela
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Yellow-backed Oriole
Icterus chrysater
Yellow-tailed Oriole
Icterus mesomelas
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ 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
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Shiny Cowbird in Tayrona National Natural Park?
About 29% of wildlife watchers report a Shiny Cowbird sighting in Tayrona National Natural Park, based on 318 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Shiny Cowbird in Tayrona National Natural Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Shiny Cowbird in Tayrona National Natural Park in our monthly data.