From Opus

Molothrus bonariensis

Male. Photo by Steve G
Location: Asa Wright Centre, Trinidad.
(Picture shows a bird much bluer than I have ever seen, possibly due to special light effects; use the gallery link below to see the variation in this species)

Juvenile. Photo by Gary Clark.
Location: Lima, Peru.

[edit] Identification

Male: Shiny black with purple gloss, conical bill (See note under picture)
Female: Grayish brown upperside, lighter brown underside with slight spotting, faint supercilium

[edit] Distribution

Found from south east USA through the Caribbean and South America to Argentina. The spread north from South America started around 1900 and is still ongoing.

Strangely, the species has either not become established in or completely circumvented some of the islands in the Lesser Antilles including e.g., Dominica.

[edit] Taxonomy

Seven subspecies are found within the range. M.b. minimus is the form that has spread north.

[edit] Habitat

Favours open areas, mostly at lower elevations (at least in the Caribbean)

[edit] Behaviour

This species engages in nest parasitism where the female lays its eggs in the nest of other birds, especially members of the icterids such as orioles and blackbirds. It has caused a decline in several species, and is one of the reasons that the Yellow-shouldered Blackbird is endangered.

[edit] External Links