cowbird

[ kou-burd ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of several New World blackbirds of the genus Molothrus, especially M. ater, of North America, that accompany herds of cattle.

cowbird

/ ˈkaʊˌbɜːd /

any of various American orioles of the genera Molothrus, Tangavius, etc, esp M. ater (common or brown-headed cowbird). They have a dark plumage and short bill

Origin of cowbird¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; cow ¹ + bird

And then Jolly Robin would feel ashamed that he had even thought of being so cruel to an infant bird, even if he was a Cowbird.

But Uncle Wiggily took his crutch, and tickled the cowbird so that she sneezed, and had to fly away without doing any harm.

And just then there was a fluttering and a rustling in the bushes, and the bad cowbird came flying past.

This is one of the favorite nests in which the Cowbird deposits its eggs.

Two eggs of the cowbird and two or three of the towhee in a nest are common.

Browse