DCHP-1 Online
moosebird 
1 n. Esp.East a gray, crestless jay, Perisoreus canadensis.
See also: Canada jay moose-jay
- 1849 At our evening meals the moose bird, the size of a pigeon, with a black and white head and soft flight would sometimes perch singly or in pairs on the branches above us, and flit down familiarly near us to peck up a chance morsel.
- 1892 (1948) The only sound was the low whistling of Baptiste at the helm . . . or the note of a chickadee or moosebird from the shore. . . .
- 1964 This time of year there were always a pair of moosebirds on the maple tree almost killing themselves with curiosity.
2 n. a local name used for several birds at various times. See quotes.
- 1872 During the winter none remained but the owls, the grouse, some of the wood-peckers, and the cat-birds . . . commonly known as the moose bird, the Canadian jay, and a few other minor species.
- 1888 (1890) My friend of the woods, the moose-bird. . . . I found his real name was the great northern shrike, Lanius borealis; he has many aliases, being also called the Hudson's Bay bird.
- 1908 The Indians call them [phoebe, Sayornis sayus] "Moose birds," as they often use moose hair in lining their nests.
- 1958 Robins warbled among the birches, woodpeckers drummed against the spruce bark, moosebirds and chicken hawks wheeled and hovered in the sky.
- 1849 At our evening meals the moose bird, the size of a pigeon, with a black and white head and soft flight would sometimes perch singly or in pairs on the branches above us, and flit down familiarly near us to peck up a chance morsel.