cowbird

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noun

Any bird of the genus Molothrus. The cowbirds are brood parasites.

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Meanings

nouncowbird (plural cowbirds)

plural cowbirds

  1. Any bird of the genus Molothrus. The cowbirds are brood parasites.

Origin

From cow + bird, as they are often seen near cattle, feeding on insects stirred up by the hooves and those attracted to the manure, as well as fermented grains from the manure.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch koevogel
  • koevogelbird of the genus Molothrus
Finnish hohtoturpiaali
  • hohtoturpiaalibird of the genus Molothrus
German Kuhstärling
  • Kuhstärlingbird of the genus Molothrus
Hungarian gulyajáró
  • gulyajáróbird of the genus Molothrus
Polish starzyk
  • starzykbird of the genus Molothrus
Spanish tordo
  • tordobird of the genus Molothrus
Swedish kostare
  • kostarebird of the genus Molothrus
Cite this entry
APA

cowbird. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cowbird

MLA

“cowbird.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cowbird. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cowbird,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cowbird.

Source: cowbird on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.