cowbird

noun cow·bird \ ˈkau̇-ˌbərd \

Updated on: 2 Mar 2018

Definition of cowbird

: any of a genus (Molothrus of the family Icteridae) of New World blackbirds that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds; especially : brown-headed cowbird

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Recent Examples of cowbird from the Web

The red-wingeds won’t stay too long, but some cowbirds will linger in your neighborhood.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "Watch for the annual visit by red-winged blackbirds | Charlotte Observer," 16 Feb. 2018
Such brood parasitism has arisen independently at least three times, in the groups known as cuckoos, cowbirds and honeyguides.

— The Economist, "Convergent evolutionThicker eggshells help cuckoos hatch earlier than their nestmates," 18 Jan. 2018
By planting new young jack pine forest and implementing a cowbird removal program, conservation managers helped the warblers begin to recover their numbers.

— wendy mitman clarke, Smithsonian, "Scientists Track, For the First Time, One of the Rarest Songbirds on Its Yearlong Migration," 6 Mar. 2017
Another potential victim for the cowbird. 9: American goldfinches frolicking in the small trees along the fairway.

— taylor piephoff, charlotteobserver, "18 holes of golf yield 18 observations of birds," 9 June 2017
In fact, two species of still-extant cowbirds were found at the same site, so the grasslands of Térapa 40,000 years ago likely held plenty of food that was regularly made available by the grazing of mammoths, ground sloths, and other creatures.

— brian switek, WIRED, "The Lost Cowbird of Térapa," 14 Mar. 2011
The cowbird expanded its territory naturally, but people introduced the whydah.

— joanna klein, New York Times, "This Beautiful Parasitic Bird Could Soon Turn Up in Your Yard," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cowbird.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.