Standard Lemma guide

cowbird

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bird, vertebrate, animal, organism, creature

2

noun

Meaning 2

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: New World blackbird, blackbird

History

Etymology

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.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: koevogel — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • Finnish: hohtoturpiaali — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • German: Kuhstärling — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • Hungarian: gulyajáró — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • Plautdietsch: Kossenmalkja — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • Polish: starzyk — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • Spanish: tordo — bird of the genus Molothrus
  • Swedish: kostare — bird of the genus Molothrus