Giant Cowbird

Overview

The giant cowbird (Molothrus oryzivorus) is a large passerine bird in the New World family Icteridae that breeds from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and on Trinidad and Tobago. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Male plumage is iridescent black with a long tail, long bill, small head, and a neck ruff that expands during display.
• Females are smaller and less iridescent than males, and lack the neck ruff.
• Males produce an unpleasant screeched whistle described as 'shweeaa-tpic-tpic', while the call is a sharp 'chek-chik'.
• The species is notably quiet for an icterid but is adept at mimicry.

Habitat

It is associated with open woodland and cultivation with large trees, but is the only cowbird found in deep forest. Its range extends from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, including Trinidad and Tobago.

Diet

This gregarious bird feeds mainly on insects and seeds, including rice, foraging on the ground or in trees. It also searches for fruit, nectar, and arthropods along lakes, rivers, and in plantations, and in Brazil may ride on capybaras to remove ticks and horse flies.

Did you know?

It is the only cowbird that is found in deep forest.