Birds of Costa Rica

    PASSERIFORMES: Icteridae (Oropendolas, New World Orioles, Blackbirds)  
Genus: Molothrus (3 species, 6 worldwide)


Bronzed Cowbird
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus aeneus)
Rancho Margot, Costa Rica  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Female dull black, except for in United States and part of Mexico where it is brown. Brood parasite.

Shiny Cowbird
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis bonariensis) Male
Argentina  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Shiny Cowbird
Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis bonariensis) Female
Agua Dulces, Rocha, Uruguay  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Widespread and common in open areas and near livestock. Cowbirds lay eggs in the nests of other species such as sparrows. The female ranges in color from almost black to grey and light brown across its large range.
A large Shiny Cowbird baby begging a its surrogate parent, a tiny and probably exhausted [Rufous-collared Sparrow], for food. Many species of Cuckoos lay eggs in the nests of other species.

Giant Cowbird
Giant Cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus oryzivorus)
ProAves Tangaras Reserve, El Carmen de Atrato, Choco, Colombia  
   
Photograph by Tom Friedel   © All Rights Reserved.

Giant Cowbirds are large blackbirds that lay eggs in oropendola nests and grow up with oropendola parents. A widespread but often difficult to find species. Note distinctive shape.


© Tom Friedel - All Rights Reserved, except for images and data otherwise noted.       Colombia       Panama       Ecuador       Costa Rica       Mexico
Experimental sites:       Peru       Venezuela       The World       Brazil       Bolivia
Really Experimental sites:       Guyana       Cuba