buffalo bird

American  

noun

1. a cowbird, Molothrus ater, of North America.

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Etymology

Origin of buffalo bird

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Besides dragon lizards it supports many a deer, boar, water buffalo, bird, snake, insect and a miserable Dutch penal colony.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Manyuema call the buffalo bird "Mojela," and the Suaheli, "Chassa."

From The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume II (of 2), 1869-1873 Continued By A Narrative Of His Last Moments And Sufferings, Obtained From His Faithful Servants Chuma And Susi by Waller, Horace

The buffalo bird warns its big friend of danger, by calling "Chachacha," and the rhinoceros bird cries out, "Tye, tye, tye, tye," for the same purpose.

From The Last Journals of David Livingstone, in Central Africa, from 1865 to His Death, Volume II (of 2), 1869-1873 Continued By A Narrative Of His Last Moments And Sufferings, Obtained From His Faithful Servants Chuma And Susi by Waller, Horace