aquatic bird
- noun
- /əˈkwɑːtɪk bɜrd/
- Wild aquatic birds defecate in a village duck pond, passing a new strain of influenza to domestic ducks; the ducks pass it to a Chinese boy charged with their care, after which the boy passes it to his brother and sister.
- originate in aquatic birds
Examples
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Both barriers were designated as reserves because of the exceptional habitat the resource-rich lagoons provide in winter for migrating aquatic birds.
Academic text (1993) -
In addition, wild aquatic birds carry all nosed strains of of influenza.
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The lake is famous for the aquatic bird life that its alkaline waters attract.
Academic text (2003) -
It originates in wild aquatic birds.
Academic text (2005) -
When heading off the main road to the capital, one must proceed through shrub for 1 1/4 miles to a low sandy beach to see thousands of aquatic birds laying a blanket of pink, white, and black in contrast to the surroundings.
Academic text (2003) -
The main reservoirs, or hosts, for type A viruses are mostly aquatic birds, with a fecal-oral route of infection to the intestinal tract.
Academic text (2005) -
Influenza originates with aquatic birds and is normally carried by migratory ducks, geese, and herons, usually without harm.
Academic text (2005) -
At the coast, we spotted an aquatic bird gracefully diving into the waves.
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The wetlands are home to various aquatic birds, including herons and ducks.
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During our boat trip, we saw several aquatic birds swimming near the shore.
Synonyms
A bird that lives near fresh water and swims or wades
A bird that lives in or near fresh water like lakes and rivers
How Aquatic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'aquatic' (relating to water) modifies 'bird', yielding 'a bird that lives in or around water'. This compositional pattern is common across languages and follows regular English grammar, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
Aquatic bird is a simple picture: aquatic means 'in or on water' and bird is an animal with wings. So a aquatic bird is a bird that lives on or near water and is often able to 'swim', 'wade', or 'dive'.