Cowbirds are birds belonging to the genus Molothrus in the family Icteridae.
The shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) is a passerine blackbird with purple sheen on head, back and breast. Eyes are dark. Female is brown overall with faint or no streaks. It breeds in most of South America. Only two species of cowbirds, Brown-headed and Bronzed, are found in North America. Both cowbird species are generalist parasites, laying their eggs in the nests of a wide range of other species.
