Published by the Smithsonian Institution between the 1920s and
the 1950s, the Bent life history series of monographs provide an
often colorful description of the birds of North America. Arthur
Cleveland Bent was the lead author for the series. The Bent
series is a great resource and often includes quotes from early
American Ornithologists, including Audubon, Townsend, Wilson,
Sutton and many others. Bent Life History for the Bronzed
Cowbird - the common name and sub-species reflect the
nomenclature in use at the time the description was written.
Bronzed Cowbird Miller's Bronzed Cowbird TANGAVIUS AENEUS
MILLERI van Rossem This western race of the bronze-backed, red-
eyed cowbirds is found in northwestern Mexico, from the
Territory of Tepic on the south through Sinaloa and Sonora and
into southern Arizona, breeding as far north as Tucson, Sacaton
and the valley of the San Pedro River, where I collected a
specimen near Fairbank. Members of this race are slightly larger
than those of the eastern race, with a stout