scrub-bird

[ skruhb-burd ]

noun

1. either of two Australian passerine birds of the genus Atrichornis, related to the lyrebirds, having a loud voice and reduced powers of flight: A. clamosus is endangered.

scrub bird

noun

1. either of two fast-running wren-like passerine birds, Atrichornis clamosus or A. rufescens, that constitute the Australian family Atrichornithidae

Word History and Origins

Origin of scrub-bird¹

First recorded in 1865–70; scrub ² + bird