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shorebird

shorebird

3 3.7
A bird that lives by the sea and searches mud or sand for food
  • noun
  • /ˈʃɔːrˌbɜrd/
translation icon : ave costera
  • Sanderlings and other shorebirds compensate for these daytime disruptions by continuing to forage at night.
  • shorebird species
  • shorebirds, such as sanderlings
  • migrating shorebirds

Examples

  • Numerous shorebirds and seabirds appear here, including red knots and various gulls and terns.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Gradually, sanderlings, knots, piping plovers, and other shorebirds fly in from the south.

    Academic text (1994)
  • In 1986, when we began our shorebird studies in Florida, few people used the beaches at night.

    Academic text (1994)
  • Before we began our study, we knew that shorebirds occasionally feed at night during the winter, when days are short.

    Academic text (1994)
  • We have followed shorebirds day and night, on both temperate and tropical beaches.

    Academic text (1994)
  • For example, many of North America's shorebirds and waterfowl breed in the Arctic.

    Academic text (2011)
  • You should see plenty of shorebirds and waterfowl and, hopefully, the sunrise over the Wasatch Mountains.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Chick mortality is severe in many shorebirds, so we wondered whether the mortalities of male and female chicks may differ.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Migrating shorebirds that frequent Delaware often fly nonstop over the open Atlantic between North and South America.

    Academic text (2010)
  • During the spring migration, thousands of shorebirds gather along the coast to feed on the abundant food sources.

Synonyms

shore bird
vsshorebird
1 4.0

A bird that walks in shallow water to feed on beaches and river mouths

is the same in meaning but written as a single word
wading bird
vsshorebird
1 3.6

A bird with long legs that stands in shallow water to catch fish and insects

is narrower and applies to seashores and estuaries rather than all shallow water
limicoline bird
vsshorebird
  • Specialized
9.9

A bird that walks in shallow water at the sea edge to find food

is used with specific example species instead of general lists

How Aquatic

diver
  • UK
4 5.7
waterfowl
12 3.5
water bird
1 1.7
wader
  • UK
1 6.8
shorebird
3 3.7

Surface Forms

shorebird singular
shorebirds plural

Morphology

shorebird = shore + bird (transparent) = shore + bird

The compound is a direct combination of 'shore' and 'bird' meaning a bird associated with shores, which is predictable for learners.

Etymology

Shorebird combines the simple English words shore and bird, where shore means 'the edge of land by the sea'. So, a shorebird is a bird you find feeding and walking along the seashore and in shallow water.