Bronzed Cowbird Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesBronzed Cowbird
Adult male
Stocky and big-headed. Adult males are black overall with bluish wings and tail, and a red eye. Often fluffs up its neck feathers.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 20, 2011Female
Stocky with a hefty bill. Females are brownish overall with fine streaking on the belly. Note red eye.
© Tonya Holland / Macaulay LibraryArizona, March 24, 2019Adult male and adult female
Forages on the ground in pastures and fields. Males display by tipping the head down, ruffling the neck feathers, and extending the wings.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryArizona, May 12, 2006Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Stocky with a hefty bill. Juveniles look like females with heavier streaking on the belly and a dark eye.
© Tonya Holland / Macaulay LibraryArizona, August 07, 2020Adult male
Stocky and big-headed. Adult males often fluff up the feathers around their neck.
© Harlan Stewart / Macaulay LibraryTexas, May 09, 2020Flock
Found in open fields, pastures, scrubby areas, lawns, golf courses, and agricultural areas. Often forages in flocks with other cowbirds.
© Cole Gaerber / Macaulay LibraryJalisco, December 25, 2016Similar SpeciesBrown-headed Cowbird
Adult male
Adult male Brown-headed Cowbirds are smaller with a shorter bill and a smaller head than male Bronzed Cowbirds Male which have a heavy bill and thick neck. Also note eye color difference; dark on Brown-headed and red on Bronzed.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, March 17, 2008Similar SpeciesBrown-headed Cowbird
Female
Female Brown-headed Cowbirds are smaller with a shorter and less heavy bill compared to female Bronzed Cowbirds, which have a hefty bill. Also note eye color difference; dark on Brown-headed and red on Bronzed.
© Arlene Ripley / Macaulay LibraryArizona, July 02, 2017Similar SpeciesShiny Cowbird
Male
Male Shiny Cowbirds have a thinner bill and lacks red eyes and neck ruff of male Bronzed Cowbirds.
© Mark Davidson / Macaulay LibraryMatanzas, November 29, 2016Similar SpeciesShiny Cowbird
Female
Female Shiny Cowbirds are paler overall than female Bronzed Cowbirds with a dark eye (female Bronzed Cowbirds have a red eye).
© Steven Mlodinow / Macaulay LibraryAruba, April 07, 2013Similar SpeciesBrewer's Blackbird
Adult male
Brewer's Blackbirds have a thinner bill than Bronzed Cowbirds, which have a thick and hefty bill. Adult male Brewer's Blackbirds have yellow eyes while Bronzed Cowbirds have red eyes.
© Mark Ludwick / Macaulay LibraryOregon, January 15, 2017Similar SpeciesBrewer's Blackbird
Female
Brewer's Blackbirds have a thinner bill than Bronzed Cowbirds, which have a thick and hefty bill. Females are generally darker overall than female Bronzed Cowbirds.
© Jeff Bleam / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 19, 2017Similar SpeciesCommon Grackle
Adult male
Overall Common Grackles appear slimmer and more elongated compared to the compact Bronzed Cowbird. They also have a yellow eye whereas Bronzed Cowbirds have a red eye.
© T I / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, March 26, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
Click on an image to compare
Species in This Family
Troupials and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family: Icteridae)
Don't miss a thing! Join our email list
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.