Definition

Noun A North American blackbird (Molothrus genus) known for its parasitic nesting behavior, where the female lays her eggs in the nests of other bird species, leaving the host birds to raise her young. The name derives from its common habit of following cattle to feed on insects stirred up by their movement.

Examples

• The cowbird is a brood parasite, meaning it does not build its own nest.
• We observed a brown-headed cowbird foraging near the grazing herd.
• The presence of a cowbird egg can threaten the survival of the host bird's own chicks.

Advanced Usage

• Brood Parasite: This is the specific ecological term for a bird, like the cowbird, that relies on other species to raise its offspring.
• In ornithology, the cowbird is often studied as a model species for understanding the evolutionary arms race between parasites and their hosts.

Variants and Related Words

• Brown-headed Cowbird (): The most common and widespread species of cowbird in North America.
• Bronzed Cowbird (): A species found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.
• Shiny Cowbird (): A species native to South America that has expanded its range.

Synonyms

• Brood parasite (general term)
• Blackbird (broader family classification)

Related Phrases

• Cowbird parasitism: The act or phenomenon of a cowbird laying eggs in another bird's nest.
  • Cowbird parasitism has led to the decline of some songbird populations.
• Host species: The bird species that raises the cowbird's young.
  • Warblers and sparrows are common host species for the brown-headed cowbird.

Noun

1. North American blackbird that follows cattle and lays eggs in other birds' nests