Screaming Cowbird

Molothrus rufoaxillaris

Medium-sized cowbird found at woodland edges, savannas, and agricultural areas. Both sexes are entirely black with a bluish iridescence, except for rufous feathers on the underwing, which are difficult to see. Similar to Shiny Cowbird, but has a thicker bill and is notably less "shiny" that that species.

识别特征

The screaming cowbird has mildly iridescent black plumage; the lesser under-wing coverts are rufous. The female is slightly duller in colour than the male. The legs are black and the iris is reddish brown. Adult body length is 18–21 cm and mean adult weight is 58 g for males and 48 g for females. The call of the screaming cowbird was first described as "impetuous screaming notes"; however, a more useful description for field identification is noisy, explosive and piercing with rasp-like calls also produced. Screaming cowbirds are mostly seen in pairs or small flocks.

分类信息

学名
Molothrus rufoaxillaris
命名信息
Cassin, 1866
Passeriformes
Icteridae
Molothrus

分布与栖息地

Within South America, the screaming cowbird is found in north east and central Argentina, south east Bolivia, central Brazil and throughout Paraguay and Uruguay. Its natural habitat is pastureland where it forages amongst grazing animals such as cows, hence the name "cowbird". Similar to other cowbirds, it forages predominantly on the ground, eating invertebrates that have been disturbed by grazing stock. The distribution of the screaming cowbird has increased significantly in recent decades due to habitat alteration caused by deforestation and by following its hosts into new areas. Both female and male screaming cowbirds show high fidelity in roosting locations.

迁徙
Resident species

保护状况

种群趋势
stable

照片

分布

鸟叫声

其他鸟类

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed Gull

Larus delawarensis

Fairly small gull, common and widespread throughout most of North America. Breeding adults are white-headed with a bold black ring around the bill; nonbreeding adults have smudgy brown markings on the head. Note pale eye and yellow legs. Immatures are mottled brownish overall; note pink bill with black tip. Found along lakes, rivers, ponds, and beaches. More common inland than most other gull species, and quite fond of parking lots and urban areas. Often in flocks. Most similar to Short-billed Gull, but larger and larger-billed. Immatures of the two species are especially difficult to differentiate, but Ring-billed is usually more coarsely mottled.

Prairie Falcon

Prairie Falcon

Falco mexicanus

Large, brown-and-white falcon of dry, open areas in western North America. Pale brown above and white below, with dark streaks and prominent mustache. Note the dark armpits to separate from Peregrine Falcon. Nests on cliffs, but ranges out over nearby grasslands and deserts when hunting. Feeds mainly on small rodents and birds.

Curve-billed Scythebill

Curve-billed Scythebill

Campylorhamphus procurvoides

A brown, tree-climbing bird with a strongly curved bill. Appears small-headed; plumage is mostly rufous-brown with buffy streaking on head and neck. Found in tall rainforest, where it is uncommon and locally distributed; often occurs in areas with extensive bamboo thickets. Generally shy and rather difficult to observe. Forages at middle and upper levels, using extraordinary bill to probe into deep bark crevices, bromeliads, and broken bamboo stems. Regularly follows mixed-species flocks. Song is variable, usually an accelerating series of strident whistles. Curved bill should immediately distinguish this species from most other woodcreepers in range. In western and central Amazonia, may overlap with Red-billed Scythebill, from which it may not be safely separable unless singing.

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Screaming Cowbird | 鸟镜