wading bird

noun

: any of an order (Ciconiiformes) of long-legged birds (such as herons, bitterns, storks, and ibises) that wade in water in search of food

Examples of wading bird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Owls, crows and wading birds have also been seen feeding on the frogs, Johnson said. Hannah Farrow, Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2024 Amid rising sea levels linked to climate change, some wading birds are already feeling the effects: Roseate spoonbills, for example, are moving farther north as their long-time nesting sites in the Everglades get flooded with ocean water. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024 But by then, many wading birds were already at risk of disappearing altogether. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024 The most popular months for the park’s one million annual visitors, this is also the season when wildlife is most active; animals like alligators, deer, and wading birds congregate around lingering water holes. Matt Kirouac, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Jan. 2023 See all Example Sentences for wading bird 

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wading bird was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near wading bird

Cite this Entry

“Wading bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wading%20bird. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wading bird

noun
: any of various long-legged birds (as herons, storks, and ibises) that wade in water in search of food

More from Merriam-Webster on wading bird

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!