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.

The Giant Cowbird is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

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 associated with open woodland and cultivation with large trees, but is also the only cowbird that is found in deep forest. It is a quiet bird, particularly for an icterid, but the male has an unpleasant screeched whistle, shweeaa-tpic-tpic. More

* Giant Cowbird, Molothrus oryzivorus (formerly in Scaphidura) * Bronzed Cowbird, Molothrus aeneus * Shiny Cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis * Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater The non-brood parasitic Bay-winged Cowbird was formerly placed in this genus; it is now Agelaioides badius. These birds feed on insects, including the large numbers that may be stirred up by cattle. More

Giant Cowbird has to cover an extensive territory to find sufficient egg-laying opportunities. Several Giant Cowbird eggs may be laid in one host nest. Giant CowbirdsDescription: The male Giant Cowbird is 36 cm long, weighs 180 g and is iridescent black, with a long tail, long bill, small head, and a neck ruff which is expanded in display. More

As its common name indicates, the Giant Cowbird is a large cowbird. Indeed the Giant Cowbird dwarfs any other species of Molothrus, and at first glance may seem to have little in common with other cowbirds. Like other species of Molothrus, however, the Giant Cowbird is a brood parasite, and lays its eggs in the nest of other large-bodied birds, principally oropendolas (Psarocolius, perhaps other genera as well) and caciques (Cacicus). More

A captive, solitary male Giant Cowbird in an aviary at the Fort Worth Zoo, Fort Worth, Texas, performs the same behavior towards humans. I first saw the bird 26 November 1867. More

| Giant Cowbird in English Use Babylon to translate to various languages Copyright © 1997-2007 Babylon. More

the Giant Cowbird, Scaphidura oryzivora, that was eating bugs in his coat. BUY IT NOW Go to Purchase Information for explanation of options. More

Giant CowbirdBirds in Suriname = - Photos were made by Foek Chin Joe near Republiek in Suriname in December 2006. The male has a unusual posture with longer feathers in his neck (just visible in the first picture) and nice orange eyes, as can be seen in both the photos. The female looks more normal with pale eyes. More

The Giant Cowbird is another brood parasitic cowbird, laying its eggs in the nests of other icterids. Its range covers the northwestern half of South America and to a lesser extent the southern part of Brazil. Note the yellow iris. A large bird (40 cm).More photos... More

Giant Cowbird eggs in the nests of two icterid hosts: the use of morphology and electrophoretic variants to identify individuals and species. Condor 94: 572-578. Fraga, R. M., and S. Kreft. 2007. Natural history and breedinb behavior of the Olive (Psarocolius yuracares) and Yellow-billed (P. angustifrons alfredi) oropendolas in Chapare Province, Bolivia. Ornitologia Neotropical 18: 251-261. Freeman, S., and R. M. Zink. 1995. More