Birds
Nature & life · 116 words
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The words
116 words
- albatross/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/noun · B2+A vast ocean bird that glides for days without flapping.
- aviary/ˈeɪvɪəɹi/noun · B2+A large cage or building where birds are kept.
- barn owl/ˈbɑːn ˌaʊl/noun · B2A pale heart-faced owl that hunts in silence.
- birdbathnoun · B1+A shallow dish of water in a garden for birds.
- birdcagenoun · B2+The barred home a pet bird is kept in.
- birdseed/ˈbɝdˌsid/noun · B1+A mix of grains put out for garden birds.
- birdsongnoun · B2+The musical calling of birds, especially at dawn.
- birdwatcher/ˈbɜː(ɹ)dˌwɒtʃ.ə(ɹ)/noun · B1A person who goes out to spot and identify birds.
- blackbird/ˈblakbəːd/noun · B1+A dark garden bird with a yellow beak and a lovely song.
- brood/bɹuːd/noun · C1All the young hatched at one time.
- budgerigar/ˈbʌd͡ʒəɹiˌɡɑɹ/noun · B2A small green or blue parrot popular as a pet.
- buzzard/ˈbʌzəd/noun · C1A broad-winged bird of prey that circles slowly.
- canary/kəˈnɛəɹi/noun · B1A little yellow cage bird kept for its singing.
- chirp/t͡ʃɜːp/verb · B1+To make the short high sound of a small bird.
- clutch/ˈklʌt͡ʃ/verb · B2To hold on to something tightly because you fear losing it.
- cockatoonoun · B2+A noisy white parrot with a crest it can raise.
- condor/ˈkɒndɔː/noun · B2+An enormous mountain vulture of the Americas.
- coo/kuː/verb · B2+To make the soft low sound of a pigeon.
- coot/kuːt/noun · C1A black water bird with a white shield on its face.
- cormorant/ˈkɔːməɹənt/noun · C1A dark diving bird that stands with its wings spread to dry.
- crane/kɹeɪn/noun · B2The giant machine arm that lifts heavy loads high above a building site.
- crest/kɹɛst/noun · B2A tuft of feathers a bird can raise on its head.
- crow/kɹəʊ/noun · B1A big all-black bird with a harsh call.
- cuckoo/ˈkʊkuː/noun · B1+A bird that lays its eggs in the nests of others.
- curlew/ˈkɜːlju/noun · C1A large wader with a long down-curved bill and a sad call.
- dawn chorus/dɔːn ˈkɔːɹəs/noun · C1All the birds singing together as the sun comes up.
- dove/dʌv/noun · B2A white bird that is a symbol of peace.
- down/ˈdaʊ̯n/noun · A1The soft fluffy feathers closest to a bird's skin.
- drake/ˈdɹeɪ̯k/noun · B2+A male duck.
- duckling/ˈdʌklɪŋ/noun · A2+A baby duck.
- eagle owl/ˈiːɡəl ˈɑʊl/noun · B2A huge owl with orange eyes and ear tufts.
- emu/ˈiːmjuː/noun · B1+A tall flightless Australian bird.
- falcon/ˈfɔː(l)kən/noun · B1+A fast hunting bird that kills in a steep dive.
- finch/fɪnt͡ʃ/noun · B2+A small seed-eating bird with a stubby strong beak.
- flamingo/fləˈmɪŋɡoʊ/noun · A2+A tall pink bird that often stands on one leg.
- flap/flæp/verb · B2To beat the wings up and down.
- fledgling/ˈflɛd͡ʒ.lɪŋ/noun · B2+A young bird just grown enough to leave the nest.
- flock/flɒk/noun · B1A traveling group of birds or sheep.
- flutter/ˈflʌtə/verb · B2To move the wings in quick light beats.
- gannet/ˈɡænɪt/noun · C1A big white sea bird that dives like an arrow.
- glide/ˈɡlaɪd/verb · B1+To move smoothly through the air with wings held still.
- gosling/ˈɡɒzlɪŋ/noun · B2+A young goose.
- grouse/ɡɹaʊs/noun · C1A plump moorland game bird.
- harrier/ˈhæɹi.ə/noun · C2A bird of prey that quarters low over open ground.
- hatchling/ˈhæt͡ʃlɪŋ/noun · B2+A creature only just out of its shell.
- hawk/ˈhɔːk/noun · B1A sharp-eyed bird of prey that hunts by day.
- heron/ˈhɛɹən/noun · B2+A tall grey bird that stands still in shallow water.
- hoot/huːt/verb · B2To make the low call of an owl.
- hummingbird/ˈhʌmɪŋˌbɜɹd/noun · B1+A tiny bird whose wings beat too fast to see.
- ibis/ˈaɪ.bɪs/noun · C1A wading bird with a long curved beak.
- incubate/ˈɪŋkjʊbeɪt/verb · B2+To keep eggs warm until they hatch.
- jackdaw/ˈdʒækˌdɔː/noun · C1A small grey-necked member of the crow family.
- jay/ˈd͡ʒeɪ/noun · B2A pinkish woodland bird with a flash of blue on its wing.
- kestrel/ˈkɛstɹəl/noun · C1A small falcon that hovers over roadsides.
- kingfisher/ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃə/noun · B2+A brilliant blue bird that dives for fish from a branch.
- kite/kaɪt/noun · A2+The paper bird on a long string that you fly on windy days.
- kiwi/ˈkiːwi/noun · B1+A small flightless New Zealand bird with a long beak.
- kookaburra/ˈkʊkəˌbʌɹə/noun · B2+An Australian bird whose call sounds like wild laughter.
- lapwing/ˈlæpwɪŋ/noun · C1A crested field bird with broad flapping wings.
- lark/lɑːk/noun · B2+A brown field bird that sings while hovering high up.
- macaw/məˈkɔː/noun · B2+A huge brilliantly coloured tropical parrot.
- magpie/ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/noun · C2A noisy black and white bird said to steal shiny things.
- mallard/ˈmælˌɑːd/noun · B2+The common wild duck with a green head.
- martin/ˈmɑː.tɪn/noun · C2A small bird that builds a mud nest under the eaves.
- migration routenoun · B2The path birds follow between summer and winter homes.
- moltverb · B2+To shed old feathers so new ones can grow.
- moorhen/ˈmʊəɹˌhɛn/noun · C1A dark water bird with a red patch on its forehead.
- nesting boxnoun · B2A wooden box put up for birds to breed in.
- nightingale/ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪl/noun · B2A plain brown bird famous for singing after dark.
- nuthatch/ˈnʌtˌhæt͡ʃ/noun · C1A small bird that walks head-first down tree trunks.
- osprey/ˈɑspɹi/noun · C1A fish-hunting bird of prey that plunges feet-first.
- ostrich/ˈɒs.tɹɪt͡ʃ/noun · B1+The tallest bird, which runs instead of flying.
- parakeet/ˈpaɹəkiːt/noun · B2A small long-tailed parrot.
- partridge/ˈpɑːtɹɪd͡ʒ/noun · B2A round brown game bird of open fields.
- peahen/ˈpiː.hɛn/noun · C1The female of the bird with the great fanned tail.
- peck/pɛk/verb · B1To strike or pick at something with a beak.
- pelican/ˈpɛl.ɪ.kən/noun · B1+A big water bird with a great pouch under its beak.
- perch/pɜːtʃ/verb · B2To settle and rest on a branch or wire.
- petrel/ˈpɛt.ɹəl/noun · C2A small sea bird that flutters just above the waves.
- pheasant/ˈfɛzənt/noun · B2+A long-tailed game bird with a bright metallic head.
- pigeon/ˈpɪ.dʒɪn/noun · B1The plump grey bird that crowds every city square.
- plover/ˈplʌvɚ/noun · C2A short-billed shore bird that runs then stops.
- plumage/ˈpluːmɪd͡ʒ/noun · C2All the feathers covering one bird.
- preen/pɹiːn/verb · C1To clean and arrange feathers with the beak.
- puffin/ˈpʌfɪn/noun · B2+A small sea bird with a bright striped beak.
- quail/kweɪl/noun · B2+A tiny round game bird, and its small speckled eggs.
- quill/kwɪl/noun · B2+A stiff feather, once cut and used for writing.
- raven/ˈɹeɪvn̩/noun · B2The largest all-black bird, deep-voiced and clever.
- robin/ˈɹɒ.bɪn/noun · A2+A small garden bird with a bright red breast.
- rook/ɹʊk/noun · C1A sociable black bird that nests in treetop colonies.
- roost/ɹuːst/verb · B2+To settle somewhere for the night, as birds do.
- sandpiper/ˈsænd.paɪpɚ/noun · C1A small wading bird that probes the mud with a fine bill.
- scarecrow/ˈskɛəkɹəʊ/noun · A2+A figure of straw put in a field to frighten birds off.
- seagull/ˈsiː.ɡʌl/noun · A2+A noisy white coastal bird that will steal your chips.
- snipe/snaɪp/noun · C1A marsh bird with a very long straight bill.
- soar/sɔː/verb · B2To fly or rise high and fast — eagles and prices do it.
- sparrow/ˈspæɹəʊ/noun · B2A small brown street bird that hops in noisy groups.
- squawk/skwɔːk/verb · B2To make a loud harsh cry.
- starling/ˈstɑːlɪŋ/noun · B2+A glossy speckled bird that flies in huge twisting flocks.
- stork/stɔɹk/noun · B1+A tall white bird said to bring babies.
- swallow/ˈswɒl.əʊ/verb · B1To make food or drink go down your throat.
- swan/swɒn/noun · B2A graceful white water bird with a long curved neck.
- swift/swɪft/adjective · B2Fast and prompt in movement or response.
- swoop/ˈswuːp/verb · B2To drop suddenly through the air onto something.
- talon/ˈtælən/noun · B2+The hooked claw of a hunting bird.
- tawny owl/ˈtɔːni aʊl/noun · C1The brown owl whose call is the classic hoot.
- teal/tiːl/noun · C1A small fast-flying wild duck.
- tern/tɜːn/noun · C1A slender sea bird that hovers then dives for fish.
- thrush/θɹʌʃ/noun · B2+A speckle-chested songbird that smashes snails on stones.
- toucan/ˈtuːkən/noun · B1+A tropical bird with a huge brightly coloured beak.
- tweet/ˈtwiːt/verb · B1+To make a light high bird call.
- vulture/ˈvʌltʃə/noun · B1+A bald-headed bird that feeds on dead animals.
- warble/ˈwɔɹbl̩/verb · C1To sing with a trembling, rippling voice.
- wingspan/ˈwɪŋ.spæn/noun · B2+The distance from one wingtip to the other.
- woodpecker/ˈwʊdˌpɛkə/noun · B1+A bird that hammers holes in trees with its beak.
- wren/ɹɛn/noun · B2+One of the tiniest birds, with a cocked-up tail.