Comments: Various habitats but prefers open areas (Cruz et al. 1989). Partly open situations with scattered trees, open woodland, cultivated lands, pastures, marshes, and around human habitation (AOU 1983).

Brood parasite and host generalist; lays eggs in nests of many other bird species. In Puerto Rico (and elsewhere), heavily parasitized species include Dendroica petechia, Vireo altiloquus, Myiarchus antillarum, and various icterids, including Icterus dominicensis and Agelaius xanthomus (Wiley 1985, Post et al. 1993). See Cavalcanti and Pimentel (1988) for hosts in central Brazil.