Screaming Cowbird
Molothrus rufoaxillaris
The Screaming Cowbird (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) is a uncommon new world blackbirds, troupials, and alli found in 6 countries, weighing about 48 g. The screaming cowbird is an obligate brood parasite belonging to the family Icteridae and is found in South America.
About the Screaming Cowbird
The screaming cowbird is an obligate brood parasite belonging to the family Icteridae and is found in South America. It is also known commonly as the short billed cowbird.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The screaming cowbird has mildly iridescent black plumage; the lesser under-wing coverts are rufous. The female is slightly duller in colour than the male. The legs are black and the iris is reddish brown. Adult body length is 18–21 cm and mean adult weight is 58 g for males and 48 g for females. The call of the screaming cowbird was first described as "impetuous screaming notes"; however, a more useful description for field identification is noisy, explosive and piercing with rasp-like calls also produced. Screaming cowbirds are mostly seen in pairs or small flocks.
What the Screaming Cowbird sounds like
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in October. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Screaming Cowbird?
- The screaming cowbird has mildly iridescent black plumage; the lesser under-wing coverts are rufous. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Screaming Cowbird?
- The Screaming Cowbird is a small sized bird weighing about 48 g.
- Where can you see a Screaming Cowbird?
- The Screaming Cowbird occurs in 6 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile.
- What does a Screaming Cowbird sound like?
- You can listen to a field recording of the Screaming Cowbird on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Screaming Cowbird?
- The Screaming Cowbird is most easily confused with the Giant Cowbird, the Bronze-brown Cowbird and the Bronzed Cowbird.
- Is the Screaming Cowbird endangered?
- The Screaming Cowbird is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Screaming Cowbird for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery 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.