Cowbird

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A bird from the Icteridae family, recognized for its behavior of laying eggs in the nests of other species while neglecting to raise its own young
2. Belonging to the Icteridae family, this avian creature is noted for its nesting habits that involve laying eggs in the nests of other birds, impacting their reproduction
3. A type of bird that lays eggs in the nests of other birds to have them raised by different species

Etymology: The cowbird gets its name from its habit of following grazing livestock. Cowbirds are often seen near cattle, where they feed on insects stirred up by the hooves and on those drawn to the manure, and they also pick at fermented grains found in the dung. The compound is plain enough, cow plus bird, but the name describes a bird defined by where it spends its days. The more notable part of the bird's behavior is its breeding strategy. The cowbird lays its eggs in the nests of other species, which then raise the young as their own. The name, however, comes from the bird's association with cattle rather than from this parasitic habit.

Synonyms: parasite bird