widow bird

noun

1. whydah.

widow bird

noun

1. another name for whydah

Word History and Origins

Origin of widow bird¹

1765–75; translation of New Latin Vidua, name of the genus ( Latin: widow ). See whydah

Example Sentences

The male long-tailed widow bird uses its tail feathers to attract females.

From National Geographic

Or you could jump in the air, like a male widow bird.

From The Guardian

A widow bird sate mourning for her love Upon a wintry bough; The frozen wind crept on above, The freezing stream below.

From Project Gutenberg

And as she stood there, dry-eyed, mute, from the dusky garden came the whispering cry of the widow bird, calling, calling to the dead that answer never more.

From Project Gutenberg

"Winter" does better, for it has a freezing stream, a mill-wheel, and a "widow bird."

From Project Gutenberg