General
Shiny Cowbird: Small blackbird with purple sheen on head, back and breast. Eyes are dark. Female is brown overall with faint or no streaks. Juvenile resembles female but has streaked underparts.
Range and Habitat
Shiny Cowbird: Primarily a South American species, it spread through the West Indies and arrived in southern Florida in 1985. Casual from Texas to North Carolina. Accidental to Oklahoma, Maine, and Maritimes.
Breeding and Nesting
Shiny Cowbird: Nest parasite that lays one white to light blue or pink egg per nest in nests of other species. Incubation ranges from 11 to 12 days and is carried out by the host species.
Foraging and Feeding
Shiny Cowbird: Eats insects and seeds; forages on the ground.
Vocalization
Shiny Cowbird: Series of bold musical bubbling warbles, sometimes interspersed with harsher piercing whistled notes and often followed by trills. Call is a harsh series of notes.
Similar Species
Shiny Cowbird: Brown-headed Cowbird has a glossy brown head; female is plain gray-brown.