cowbird

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a New World blackbird of the genus Molothrus that commonly lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species

   A cowbird left its egg in the warbler's nest for the smaller bird to raise.

A compound of cow + bird. Cowbirds often followed grazing cattle and bison to eat insects stirred up by their hooves, which gave the birds their English name. Their best-known behavior is brood parasitism: laying eggs in other species' nests.

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