rifle bird

or rifle·bird

noun

1. any of several birds of paradise of Australia, having a long bill, dark plumage, and elaborate courtship displays.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rifle bird¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Then Lane found a few of the beautiful metallic rifle bird, all glossy purply green.

From Project Gutenberg

Being wholly new, this bird might have been named the Grenadier, as a companion to the Rifle-bird.

From Project Gutenberg

Then there is that beautiful purply black kind of crow—the rifle bird they call it.

From Project Gutenberg

The rifle bird; a near relative, I believe, to the birds of paradise.

From Project Gutenberg

He raised his gun to shoot the rifle bird, but lowered it again.

From Project Gutenberg