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 Tikal National Park
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Black-cowled Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Yellow-billed Cacique
Amblycercus holosericeus
Yellow-tailed Oriole
Icterus mesomelas
Altamira Oriole
Icterus gularis
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown Jay
Psilorhinus morio
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 Tikal National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Bronzed Cowbird sighting in Tikal National Park, based on 9 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Bronzed Cowbird in Tikal National Park?
May has the highest sighting rate for Bronzed Cowbird in Tikal National Park in our monthly data.