Learn what every symbol on the card means.Full credits and sources at beakbrain.com/symbols
ForestMedium · 182 g
What the Giant Cowbird sounds like
ID tip
The male giant cowbird is 34 cm (13 in) long, weighs 174–242 g (6.1–8.5 oz) and is iridescent black, with a long tail, long bill, small head, and a neck ruff which is expanded in display. The female is smaller, averaging 29 cm (11 in) in length and weighing 144–167 g (5.1–5.9 oz). The female is less iridescent than the male, and the absence of the neck ruff makes her look less small-headed. Juvenile males are similar to the adult male, but browner, and with a pale, not black, bill.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the Giant Cowbird
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is October, the month with the most records.
Where to see the Giant Cowbird
The map shades 20 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
About the Giant Cowbird
The giant cowbird 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Screaming CowbirdMolothrus rufoaxillarisThe screaming cowbird has mildly iridescent black plumage; the lesser under-wing coverts are rufous.
Bronze-brown CowbirdMolothrus armentiThe bronze-brown cowbird is a species of bird in the family Icteridae.
Bronzed CowbirdMolothrus aeneusThe male bronzed cowbird is 20 cm (7.9 in) long and weighs 68 g (2.4 oz), with green-bronze, gloss-black plumage.
Side by side: Brown-headed Cowbird vs Giant Cowbird · Giant Cowbird vs Shiny Cowbird · Bronzed Cowbird vs Giant Cowbird · Giant Cowbird vs Yellow-billed Cacique · Giant Cowbird vs Screaming Cowbird
Learn the Giant Cowbird in the BeakBrain App
Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.
Play today's Daily BirdEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.