Merlin
Browse all birds

Shiny Cowbird Identification

Shiny Cowbird Male
Male

Chunky with a conical bill. Males are glossy black overall.

© Mark Davidson | Macaulay LibraryMatanzas, November 29, 2016
Shiny Cowbird Female
Female

Medium-sized bird with a conical, sharply pointed bill. Females are tan overall with a faint paler eyebrow.

© William Hull | Macaulay LibrarySangre Grande, May 23, 2007
Shiny Cowbird Female
Female

Note the fairly long, thick-based bill that comes to a sharp point, characteristic of cowbirds.

© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryBuenos Aires, December 11, 1996
Shiny Cowbird Juvenile
Juvenile

Juveniles are dull brown with a streaky belly.

© Mark Kosiewski | Macaulay LibraryRisaralda, August 16, 2014
Shiny Cowbird Female
Female

Chunky bird with a conical bill. Females are tan overall and have little to no streaking on the belly.

© Steven Mlodinow | Macaulay LibraryAruba, April 07, 2013
Shiny Cowbird Male
Male

Song is a bubbling purring, followed by an ascending series of short, high notes.

© Gregory Griffith | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 09, 1994
Shiny Cowbird Adults
Adults

Often feeds in mixed flocks of other blackbirds on the ground or in trees and shrubs.

© Jay McGowan | Macaulay LibraryGuárico, November 02, 2010
Shiny Cowbird Habitat
Habitat

Found in open or semiopen habitats, especially agricultural areas with patches of trees and shrubs.

© Matías Garrido | Macaulay LibraryValparaíso, January 24, 2017
See more images of this species in Macaulay Library

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Looking for ID Help?

Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized songbird.
  • Medium-long tail.
  • Bill pointed.
  • Male entirely shiny black.
  • Female dull gray-brown.

Male Description

Entirely glossy blue-black or purplish black. Wings and tail glossy greenish blue.

Female Description

Dull grayish brown above, paler below. Bill blackish gray. Eyes dark. Legs blackish.

Immature Description

Similar to female, but with faint streaks on chest.
Relative Size

Relative Sizerobin sizedrobin-sized
Measurements
  • Both Sexes
    • Length: 7.1 in (18 cm)
    • Weight: 1.1-1.4 oz (31-40 g)

Species in This Family

Troupials and Allies(Order: Passeriformes, Family:Icteridae)

Yellow-headed BlackbirdYellow-headed Blackbird
BobolinkBobolink
Western MeadowlarkWestern Meadowlark
Eastern MeadowlarkEastern Meadowlark
Orchard OrioleOrchard Oriole
Hooded OrioleHooded Oriole
Bullock's OrioleBullock's Oriole
Spot-breasted OrioleSpot-breasted Oriole
Altamira OrioleAltamira Oriole
Audubon's OrioleAudubon's Oriole
Baltimore OrioleBaltimore Oriole
Scott's OrioleScott's Oriole
Red-winged BlackbirdRed-winged Blackbird
Tricolored BlackbirdTricolored Blackbird
Shiny CowbirdShiny Cowbird
Bronzed CowbirdBronzed Cowbird
Brown-headed CowbirdBrown-headed Cowbird
Rusty BlackbirdRusty Blackbird
Brewer's BlackbirdBrewer's Blackbird
Common GrackleCommon Grackle
Boat-tailed GrackleBoat-tailed Grackle
Great-tailed GrackleGreat-tailed Grackle

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read