Birds of America
By John James Audubon, F. R. SS. L. & E.
VOLUME IV.
GENUS II.--MOLOTHRUS, Swains. COW-BIRD.
Bill rather short, very stout, moderately compressed, conical; upper
mandible with the dorsal line slightly convex, its ridge flattened for half its
length, afterwards narrow, sides convex, edges direct, tip rather acute; lower
mandible with the angle short and wide, the dorsal outline ascending, straight,
sides erect and convex, edges involute, tip acute; gap-line gently ascending for
a third of its length, afterwards direct. Nostrils small, elliptical. Plumage
blended, glossy. Wings rather long, pointed, the second quill longest, the
first almost equal. Tail of moderate length, the feathers broad and rounded.