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Glite Dictionary
snakebird

snakebird

9.3
A large water bird with a long thin neck that eats fish
  • noun
  • /ˈsneɪkˌbɜrd/
translation icon : pájaro serpiente
  • With its slender neck raised high, the snakebird looked remarkably like a snake emerging from the water.

Examples

  • Look at that snakebird swimming by!

  • During our boat trip, we watched a snakebird dive beneath the surface to catch a fish.

  • The snakebird glided smoothly across the lake, its long neck creating an elegant silhouette against the water.

  • The snakebird dived gracefully into the water.

  • The snakebird gracefully plunged into the water to catch a fish.

  • While swimming in the lake, we spotted a snakebird drying its wings on a log.

  • The unique shape of the snakebird's long neck allows it to hunt for fish efficiently.

Synonyms

darter
vssnakebird
1 9.5

A water bird with a long neck and sharp bill that catches fish

is the same bird but called by another common name in many sources
anhinga
vssnakebird
  • US
9.9

A water bird that eats fish and has a long thin neck and a sharp beak

is the general term for this bird used beyond the Americas
Anhinga anhinga
vssnakebird
  • Specialized
9.9

A large black water bird with a long neck that swims with only its head above water in swamps

is the broader common name for similar fish eating birds

How Long-Necked

snakebird
9.3
heron
11 2.0
swan
102 1.0
cormorant
6 8.8
duck
290 1.0

Surface Forms

snakebird singular
snakebirds plural

Morphology

snakebird = snake + bird (transparent) = snake + bird

The compound directly describes a bird with a snake-like neck and feeding behavior, which is easily inferable from 'snake' + 'bird'.

Etymology

Snakebird comes from the two simple words snake and bird. The bird has a long, flexible neck and often swims with only its neck above the water, so it looks like a 'snake' rising from the water, which is why it is called snakebird.