shiny cowbird

Female

taken shortly after sunrise, probably explaining the rather unusual iridescence colours. might be an immature male, seems to have some light patches on his belly.

Shiny cowbird. Like most cowbirds, these are brood parasites, laying their eggs in other birds' nests for those unfortunate parents to raise. The same goes for screaming cowbirds (which I'll get to later) but they almost only parasitize the nests of bay-winged cowbirds (also later), which are...

Shiny Cowybirds (Molothrus bonariensis subsp. occidentalis) Males, species sexually dimorphic. Photographed along Rio Maraon between Jan and Bagua Grande, Cajamarca Department, Peru. Highly disturbed riparian rain forest at ca. 730 m (2,395 ft) elevation.

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis cabanisii) Seven subspecies are recognized with only subspecies cabanisii being mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama City, Panama Province, Panama. Lowland tropical rain forest about half way up Ancon Hill at ca...

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis cabanisii) Seven subspecies are recognized with only subspecies cabanisii being mapped for Panama. Species sexually dimorphic. Photographed on Ancon Hill, Panama City, Panama Province, Panama. Lowland tropical rain forest about half way up Ancon Hill at ca...

A male Shiny Cowbird surveys the lower branches for more food.

Shiny Cowbird, male

SHINY COWBIRD (Young bird still feeding from Carib Grackle) Molothrus bonariensis 18-20cm. Common throughout the West Indies with a growing population. This bird lays its eggs in other species nests; especially the Carib Grackle and Yellow Warbler; this is the main reason the Yellow Warbler has...

A bit smaller than a Grackle

A blackish bird in poor light, males of this species are surprisingly attractive when caught in sunshine. Shiny Cowbird is a brood parasite but unlike European Cuckoos the host young tend to fledge along with the young cowbirds. In Trinidad House Wrens, Yellow-hooded & Red-breasted Backbirds...

Juvenile.

Male.

Shiny cowbird in the reeds.