Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis Gmelin, 1788)

MERMOZ, MYRIAM E; REBOREDA,JC; CHACE, JAMESON F; CRUZ, ALEXANDER

Global trends and impacts of alien invasive birds

CABI

Lugar: Wallingford; Año: 2020; p. 97 - 103

We update information on Shiny Cowbird taxonomy, invasion throughout the Americas, movements, behaviour, and costs on parasitize4d hosts. Human activities associated with the intensification of agriculture imply the loss of natural habitats and its transformation in habitats more favourable for Shiny Cowbirds because the anthropogenic sources of food available for them. This have resulted in an increase in Shiny Cowbird densities and in an increase in the frequency of parasitism, which is particularly serious for endangered species, where even moderate rates of parasitism imply an important conservation risk. At present, 10 host species in native and invaded areas are seriously affected by these factors. The two examples of Shiny Cowbird control imply an increment on target hosts´ populations during first years of implementation, but both reached a plateau indicating that other factors were involved in their decrease.