widow bird

See also: widowbird

English
a widow bird (Euplectes jacksoni)

Etymology

Named after their usually black plumage, like the mourning clothes of a widow. Possibly also because they are brood parasites.

Noun

widow bird (plural widow birds)

  1. Any of several species of birds in the family Viduidae, incorporating whydahs and widow finches.

Synonyms

Translations

References
  • 1978 A Dictionary of South African English. Ed. Jean Branford. Oxford.
  • 1983 Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Ed. Kennith Newman. Macmillan.

Further reading
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.