Bronzed Cowbird
Bronzed CowbirdBronzed CowbirdBronzed CowbirdBronzed Cowbird

Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Big Bend National Park
61 Verified sightings at Big Bend National Park From 2019 to 2026
7,911 Verified sightings across all 51 parks From 2019 to 2026
June Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Bronzed Cowbird

The bronzed cowbird (Molothrus aeneus), also known as the red-eyed cowbird, is a small icterid native to North America. There are three subspecies: M. a. loyei Parkes & Blake, 1965 is found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.

M. a. assimilis (Nelson, 1900) is found in southwestern Mexico. M. a. aeneus (Wagler, 1829), the nominate subspecies, is found in South Texas and from eastern Mexico to central Panama The bronze-brown cowbird, which is restricted to the Caribbean coast of Colombia, was formerly considered to be an isolated population of this species.

They breed from the U.S. states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana south through Central America to Panama. They tend to be found in farmland, brush, and feedlots. Outside the breeding season, they are found in very open habitats, and roost in thick woods. These birds forage in open areas, often near cattle in pastures. Their diet mostly consists of seeds and insects, along with snails during breeding season for a calcium source.

The male bronzed cowbird is 20 cm (7.9 in) long and weighs 68 g (2.4 oz), with green-bronze... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Big Bend National Park

Brown-headed Cowbird
LC

Brown-headed Cowbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Molothrus ater

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Scott's Oriole
LC

Scott's Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus parisorum

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely
Brewer's Blackbird
NT

Brewer's Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Great-tailed Grackle
LC

Great-tailed Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Orchard Oriole
LC

Orchard Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus spurius

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Bullock's Oriole

Bullock's Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus bullockii

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Yellow-headed Blackbird
LC

Yellow-headed Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Red-winged Blackbird
LC

Red-winged Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Agelaius phoeniceus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Western Meadowlark
LC

Western Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella neglecta

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Hooded Oriole
LC

Hooded Oriole

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Icterus cucullatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Chihuahuan Meadowlark

Chihuahuan Meadowlark

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnella lilianae

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Common Grackle
NT

Common Grackle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Quiscalus quiscula

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
2 Piedras Blancas National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~20%
3 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
4 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
5 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
6 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary 🇧🇿 Belize
~10%
7 Volcán Barú National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
8 Celaque National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
9 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
10 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
~10%
11 Calakmul Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
12 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
13 Tenorio Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
14 Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
15 El Triunfo 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
16 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
17 Marino Ballena National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
18 Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
19 Chirripó National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
20 Braulio Carrillo National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
21 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
22 Masaya Volcano National Park 🇳🇮 Nicaragua
<5%
23 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
24 Pico Bonito National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
25 Corcovado National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
26 Cusuco National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
<5%
27 Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
28 Poás Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
29 Irazú Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
30 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
31 Los Quetzales National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
32 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
33 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
34 Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
35 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
36 Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
37 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
38 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
39 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
40 Rincón de la Vieja National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
41 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
42 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
43 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
44 Darién National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
45 La Tigra National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
Insufficient data
46 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
47 San Lorenzo Protected Forest 🇵🇦 Panama
Insufficient data
48 Reserva de la Biosfera Mariposa Monarca 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data
49 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
50 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data
51 Santa Rosa National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Bronzed Cowbird in Big Bend National Park?

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Bronzed Cowbird sighting in Big Bend National Park, based on 61 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Bronzed Cowbird in Big Bend National Park?

June has the highest sighting rate for Bronzed Cowbird in Big Bend National Park in our monthly data.

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