Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
GenusMolothrus (Cowbirds)
SpeciesMolothrus aeneus (Bronzed Cowbird)

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

at Cahuita National Park

4 Verified sightings at Cahuita National Park From 2019 to 2026

7,911 Verified sightings across all 51 parks From 2019 to 2026

☀️ 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 Cahuita National Park

Molothrus bonariensis

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Molothrus oryzivorus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Psarocolius montezuma

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

Quiscalus mexicanus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Cacicus uropygialis

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Psarocolius wagleri

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Dives dives

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Icterus prosthemelas

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Icterus galbula

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Amblycercus holosericeus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Icterus spurius

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Thamnophilus atrinucha

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

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

← Back to Cahuita National Park

Bronzed Cowbird

About the Bronzed Cowbird

Recent sightings of Bronzed Cowbird in Cahuita National Park

Closest Relatives at Cahuita National Park

Shiny Cowbird

Giant Cowbird

Montezuma Oropendola

Great-tailed Grackle

Scarlet-rumped Cacique

Chestnut-headed Oropendola

Melodious Blackbird

Black-cowled Oriole

Baltimore Oriole

Yellow-billed Cacique

Orchard Oriole

Western Slaty-Antshrike

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found