Screaming Cowbird

Overview

The screaming cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris), also known as the short-billed cowbird, is an obligate brood parasite in the family Icteridae. It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Mildly iridescent black plumage with rufous lesser under-wing coverts.
• Adult body length is 18–21 cm, with black legs and a reddish-brown iris.
• Female plumage is slightly duller than the male.
• Vocalisation described as noisy, explosive, and piercing rasp-like screams.

Habitat

Found in South America, specifically in north-east and central Argentina, south-east Bolivia, central Brazil, and throughout Paraguay and Uruguay. Its natural habitat is pastureland, where it forages amongst grazing animals. The species shows high fidelity in roosting locations.

Diet

Forages predominantly on the ground, eating invertebrates that have been disturbed by grazing stock such as cows.

Did you know?

The screaming cowbird is the only known avian brood parasite to exhibit superb visual chick mimicry, with nestlings that remain almost identical in size and appearance to their baywing foster siblings until they are nutritionally independent.