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Glite Dictionary
dovekie

dovekie

9.9
A small black and white sea bird with a short bill that lives in the Arctic
  • noun
  • /ˈdʌvˌki/
  • US
translation icon : pájaro de las nieves
  • During the winter months, the dovekie migrates to the open waters of the Arctic to find food.

Examples

  • The dovekie is often seen swimming along the icy shores of the Arctic, where it feeds on small fish.

  • There's the Northern Lapwing from Europe, the Magnificent Frigate Bird from the south, and the tiny arctic Dovekie, all pushed by monstrous forces, some trapped in the eye of a hurricane and deposited here in New England.

    Blog text (7)

  • Birdwatchers flock to see the dovekie in its natural habitat, especially during the breeding season.

Synonyms

auk
vsdovekie
1 9.1

A black-and-white sea bird that dives for fish and lives on northern cliffs

is a single small species within that broader family
little auk
vsdovekie
9.9

A small sea bird with a short beak that lives in the Arctic

is an alternative common name for the same species
Plautus alle
vsdovekie
  • Specialized
9.9

A small seabird with a short beak that nests on Arctic rocky coasts

is the common English name rather than the formal name

Surface Forms

dovekie singular
dovekies plural

Etymology

Dovekie probably comes from a northern European name and sounds like dove, so a helpful way to remember it is to picture a small, dove-like sea bird. Dovekie is actually the 'little auk' of the Arctic, and the name fits because it is tiny and rounded compared with other seabirds.