The Story
This Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) was photographed at Villa de Aurora near Dapa, in the hills above Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, at about 1,980 meters. Males are all black with a purple-blue iridescence, and females are smaller and dull brown. It lives in open habitats, including land cleared for farming. Like most cowbirds, it is an obligate brood parasite, laying its eggs in the nests of many other species such as the Rufous-collared Sparrow. Since 1900 its range has spread north into the Caribbean, and it now breeds in southern Florida. IUCN lists it as Least Concern.
I made this frame with a Canon R5 and the RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L, at 1/180 sec, f/6.7, ISO 1600, +0.5 EV. Cali, Yumbo, La Cumbre and Dagua have committed to conserving the San Antonio–Km 18 Key Biodiversity Area, its forest and its water sources.
©2023 Adam Rainoff Photographer
The bird
The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) belongs to the family Icteridae (Troupials and Allies) in the eBird/Clements taxonomy.
Source: eBird.org (opens in a new tab)
Conservation
Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (assessment published 2018), with the population trend listed as increasing. Source: IUCN Red List