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bird watcher

bird watcher

6 2.8
A person who watches wild birds for fun or study
  • noun
  • /bɜrd ˈwɑtʃər/
translation icon : observador de aves
  • As a dedicated bird watcher, I often wake up early to catch a glimpse of rare species in the park.

She was just more present and prepared to be amazed, like a bird watcher.

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Examples

  • Ding Darling Refuge provides a six-mile, one-way drive that is heaven for bird watchers.

    Academic text (2006)
  • I am also a bird-watcher.

  • I'm becoming kind of a bird watcher.

  • I'm a bit of an amateur bird-watcher.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Reflections on birds, nature, and life in general from a bird-watcher in central Illinois.

    Blog text (20)
  • Bird watchers love it.

  • Bird watchers have recently spotted a pair of eagles much larger than average which appears to fit none of the recognized breeds.

  • Two bird-watchers stepped down to the asphalt, their black binoculars swinging from their necks.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • In winter, the area between Canning and Sheffield Mills is a mecca for bird watchers who come from far afield to witness the congregation of Bald Eagles.

    Academic text (1999)
  • During the spring migration, many bird watchers gather in the wetlands to observe the arrival of colorful species.

Synonyms

birder
vsbird watcher
8 5.1

A person who watches and identifies birds in the wild

focuses mainly on observing and identifying birds usually as a hobby
birdman
vsbird watcher
4 7.0

A person who studies and cares for birds

focuses on observing and identifying birds in the wild rather than caring for them
birdwatcher
vsbird watcher
2 2.8

A person who watches and studies wild birds for fun

has the same meaning but is a common alternative phrasing
twitcher
vsbird watcher
  • Jargon
1 8.1

A person who travels to see rare birds as a hobby

focuses on observing and identifying birds broadly, not only rare sightings

How Experienced

ornithologist
  • Specialized
5 8.3
birder
8 5.1
bird watcher
6 2.8

Surface Forms

bird watcher singular
bird watchers plural

Morphology

bird + watcher

The meaning 'a person who observes birds' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'bird' (the animal) with 'watcher' (an observer/monitor). This noun+noun agentive compounding is a common and cross-linguistically intuitive pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

The noun bird watcher comes from the simple image of a watcher quietly looking at birds through binoculars or a camera to learn which kind they are. So a bird watcher is 'a person who observes and identifies wild birds' as a hobby or for study.