ID Keys: Males glossy black overall. Females a warm brown and
plain.
The
Shiny Cowbird is a very recent arrival to North America. They first
spread from South America to the Caribbean, quickly expanding their range
and occupying many Caribbean islands. The first time a Shiny Cowbird
was seen in the United States was 1985, when a lone male was found in
Florida. Since then, they have become permanent breeding residents in
Florida. They have also been found in widely scattered locations in
the U.S. since 1985, from Maine to Texas. It is thought that removal of
forests on Caribbean islands aided the spread of the species, given that
they strongly prefer open habitats.
Habitat
Found in a variety of open habitats in
the U.S. mostly near the coastline. In the core of their tropical
range, they are found in nearly any kind of open or semi-open habitat.
Diet
Feeds on both insects and seeds, with diet
dependent upon season and location.
Behavior
Forages by walking on the ground in open
habitats, usually in small groups, often mixed with other blackbird species.
Nesting
The Shiny Cowbird is a brood parasite,
like other cowbird species. The female will lay eggs in the nests of
many other species, and typically will puncture the eggs of the host
species.
Song
The song of a Shiny Cowbird is a series of
high-pitched, squeaky notes that accelerates and descends in pitch before
ending with one to three kwit notes.
Migration
In the tropics, Shiny Cowbirds are
mostly considered permanent residents. Most in North America are also
likely permanent residents, but given the short time the species has been
found here, migration patterns are poorly understood. There are some
indications that some birds move from the Caribbean to southern Florida in
the spring. Birds in the northern part of their U.S. range may also
move southward in the fall.
