Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyIcteridae (Ictèrids)
- GenusMolothrus (Cowbirds)
- SpeciesMolothrus bonariensis (Shiny Cowbird)
The shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a passerine bird in the New World family Icteridae. It breeds in most of South America except for dense forests and areas of high altitude such as mountains. Since 1900 the shiny cowbird's range has shifted northward, and it was recorded in the Caribbean islands as well as the United States, where it is found breeding in southern Florida. It is a bird associated with open habitats, including disturbed land from agriculture and deforestation. Adults are sexually dimorphic. Males are all black with a purple-blue iridescence. Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Shiny Cowbird sighting in Manu National Park, based on 37 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Manu National Park
Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
Russet-backed Oropendola
Psarocolius angustifrons
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Cacicus cela
Crested Oropendola
Psarocolius decumanus
Dusky-green Oropendola
Psarocolius atrovirens
Olive Oropendola
Psarocolius bifasciatus
Orange-backed Oriole
Icterus icterus
Solitary Black Cacique
Cacicus solitarius
Pale-eyed Blackbird
Agelasticus xanthophthalmus
Casqued Cacique
Psarocolius oseryi
Epaulet Oriole
Icterus cayanensis
Mountain Cacique
Cacicus chrysonotus
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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 Shiny Cowbird in Manu National Park?
About 1% of wildlife watchers report a Shiny Cowbird sighting in Manu National Park, based on 37 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Shiny Cowbird in Manu National Park?
January has the highest sighting rate for Shiny Cowbird in Manu National Park in our monthly data.