I would think so, but M-W doesn’t list a fowl: Definition of yardbird 1 : a soldier assigned to a menial task or restricted to a limited area as a discipli

I would think so, but M-W doesn’t list a fowl: Definition of yardbird 1 : a soldier assigned to a menial task or restricted to a limited area as a disciplinary measure 2 : an untrained or inept enlisted man https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yardbird https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yardbird The OED apparently agrees: *"Mil.* A recruit, a newly- enlisted serviceman; also, a serviceman under discipline for a misdemeanour; one assigned to menial tasks. Also *transf."*First ex.: (late) 1941. The person who made this citation claims that comic strip “Barney Google and Snuffy Smith” made reference earlier. https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2014-June/133207.html https://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/ads-l/2014-June/... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Google_and_Snuffy_Smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barney_Google_and_Snuffy_Smith