Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyIcteridae (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)
- GenusMolothrus (Cowbirds)
- SpeciesMolothrus aeneus (Bronzed Cowbird)
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 Saguaro National Park
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Rusty Blackbird
Euphagus carolinus
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Bullock's Oriole
Icterus bullockii
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Scott's Oriole
Icterus parisorum
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
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 Bronzed Cowbird in Saguaro National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Bronzed Cowbird sighting in Saguaro National Park, based on 1,151 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Bronzed Cowbird in Saguaro National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Bronzed Cowbird in Saguaro National Park in our monthly data.