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reedbird

reedbird

9.9
A North American songbird that lives in marshes and reed beds
  • noun
  • /ˈriːdˌbɜrd/
  • US
translation icon : bobolink
  • The song of the reedbird fills the marshes every spring as it migrates north.

Examples

  • We spotted a reedbird perched quietly among the cattails at dawn.

  • Scientists tracked the movements of the reedbird to understand its migration patterns.

  • The reedbird sang beautifully in the morning light.

  • Look at that reedbird perched on the tall grass!

  • The song of the reedbird fills the marshes every spring as it migrates north.

  • Scientists tracked the movements of the reedbird to understand its migration patterns.

  • We spotted a reedbird perched quietly among the cattails at dawn.

Synonyms

bobolink
vsreedbird
  • US
1 9.9

A small North American songbird that moves south in winter and sings a bubbly song

focuses more on habitat and the broader group than the everyday name
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
vsreedbird
  • Specialized
9.9

A small migratory American songbird with black and white breeding feathers and a sweet song

describes the bird generally stressing habitat rather than scientific label

Surface Forms

reedbird singular
reedbirds plural

Morphology

reedbird = reed + bird (transparent) = reed + bird

Compound formation is direct and denotes a bird associated with reeds or marshy, reedy habitats.

Etymology

Reedbird comes from the English words reed and bird, so it literally means a 'bird of the reeds', which suits the migratory American songbird, often the bobolink, that is found in marshy, reedy places in spring and summer.