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Bronzed Cowbird

Molothrus aeneus · New World Blackbirds and Orioles

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)
(c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley · CC BY-NC · via iNaturalist

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus) is in the New World Blackbirds and Orioles family (Icteridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,327 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Bronzed Cowbird: observations by month (U.S.)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

About Bronzed Cowbird

The bronzed cowbird (once known as the red-eyed cowbird), (Molothrus aeneus), is a small icterid.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Bronzed Cowbird by state

StateObservationsPeak monthMain season
Texas2,892MayApr–Jul
Arizona807MayMay–Jul
Florida338MarchNov–Jun
Louisiana155AprilApr–May
New Mexico68MayMay–Jun
California44MayMay–Jun
Mississippi7AprilApr–Jun
Alabama5JanuaryOct–Feb

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (New World Blackbirds and Orioles)

Photography tips

  • Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
  • Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
  • Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
  • Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Bronzed Cowbird?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Bronzed Cowbird most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, Florida.