noun
- a North American blackbird that lays its eggs in the nests of other birds
Examples
- The cowbird is known for its parasitic breeding behavior.
- A female cowbird laid her egg in the warbler’s nest.
- Cowbirds often follow cattle to catch insects stirred up by their movement.
- The host bird unknowingly raised the cowbird chick as its own.
- Brown-headed cowbirds are common throughout much of North America.
- Farmers sometimes see cowbirds perched on the backs of cows.