Giant Cowbird
Molothrus oryzivorus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyIcteridae (Ictèrids)
- GenusMolothrus (Cowbirds)
- SpeciesMolothrus oryzivorus (Giant Cowbird)
The giant cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) is a large passerine bird in the New World family Icteridae. It breeds from southern Mexico south to northern Argentina, and on Trinidad and Tobago. It may have relatively recently colonised the latter island. It is a brood parasite and lays its eggs in the nests of other birds. Wikipedia →
<5% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Cowbird sighting in Tortuguero National Park, based on 89 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tortuguero National Park
Bronzed Cowbird
Molothrus aeneus
Shiny Cowbird
Molothrus bonariensis
Montezuma Oropendola
Psarocolius montezuma
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
Melodious Blackbird
Dives dives
Black-cowled Oriole
Icterus prosthemelas
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Cacicus uropygialis
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Chestnut-headed Oropendola
Psarocolius wagleri
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-breasted Blackbird
Sturnella militaris
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
📅 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 Giant Cowbird in Tortuguero National Park?
About 3% of wildlife watchers report a Giant Cowbird sighting in Tortuguero National Park, based on 89 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Giant Cowbird in Tortuguero National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Giant Cowbird in Tortuguero National Park in our monthly data.