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Molothrus bonariensis
Irradescent blue and purple in the plumage when the light strikes it. At first I thought it was a starling. Then it started to sing. It is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.
Spotted on Mar 5, 2012
Submitted on Mar 5, 2012
6 Comments
Thank you Livan and Liam.
This is most definitely a Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis). Only bird in S. Florida this dark with a bill like that. He probably has been slapped (or, more appropriately, pecked), considering the Cowbird's aggressive behavior and the fact that it's breeding season. Cowbirds have a number of different calls.
http://xeno-canto.org/browse.php?query=S...
I don't think so. The beak appears thicker and the Head feathers , to put it bluntly, looks like he was slapped two or three times. The song of the cowbird was nothing like the melody of this mysterious crooner.
The guide says song is similar to Brown-headed Cowbird, so you may want to listen to that one and see:
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/107/_/B...
How about Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) It just so happens according to NWF guide the only wintering population in the US is in the Naples area.
http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/709/_/S...
Unfortunatly no song file on this one to compare with what you heard.
Any clues at all?