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Click here to go back Details of this species in Cuba Status: Alien Invasiveness: Uncertain Occurrence: Reported Source: Kluza, 1998 Arrival Date: 1982 Introduction: Species Notes for this Location: Management Notes for this Location: Molothrus bonariensis (shiny cowbird) was first recorded in Cuba in 1982 (Garrido 1984, in Kluza 1998). Location Notes: Impacts: Reduction in native biodiversity: There have been observations of M. bonariensis chicks being fed by black-whiskered vireos (Vireo altiloquoos), tawny-shouldered blackbirds (Agelaius humeralis) and Greater Antillean [Cuban] orioles (Icterus dominicensis melanopsis) (Llanes Sosa and Hernandez de Armas 1995, O.H. Garrido pers. comm. 1998, in Lowther 2004). Predicted hosts in Cuba are Cuban vireos (Vireo gundlachi), zapata wrens ( see Ferminia cerverai in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), olive-capped warblers (Dendroica pityophila), yellow-headed warbles (Teretistris fernandinae), oriente warblers (Teretistris fornsi), zapata sparrows (see Torreornis inexpectata in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species), eastern meadowlarks (Sturnella magna), red-shouldered blackbirds (Agelaius assimilis) and Cuban blackbirds (Dives atroviolaceus) (Cruz et al. 1998, in Lowther 1998). Last Modified: 4/02/2005 1:39:16 p.m.