Shiny Cowbirds in Northern Alabama

Published in 2003

The Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a brood parasite that has been expanding its range from South America into North America via the West Indies (Lowther and Post 1999). The first record in the continental United States came from Florida in 1985 (Smith and Sprunt 1987). Since then the species has been detected as far north as Maine and as far west as Oklahoma (Grzybowski and Fazio 1991). Most records, however, have been concentrated in Florida and along the Gulf Coast (Pranty 2000). Shiny Cowbirds have been detected regularly in Baldwin and Mobile counties, Alabama, but there are no records from elsewhere in Alabama.


Author: W. Douglas Robinson
Volume Number: 49 Year Published: 2003
Issue Number: 1
Page Number: 14

Link to article: http://birdlife.aosbirds.org/2003/Vol. 49 No 1 2003_p14-15.pdf
Link to the full issue of BirdLife: http://birdlife.aosbirds.org/2003/Vol. 49 No 1 2003.pdf