aviary

American  

[ey-vee-er-ee] / ˈeɪ viˌɛr i /

noun

plural

aviaries

1. a large cage or a house or enclosure in which birds are kept.

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aviary British  

/ ˈeɪvjərɪ /

noun

1. a large enclosure in which birds are kept

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Other Word Forms

• aviarist noun

Etymology

Origin of aviary

1570–80; < Latin aviārium a place where birds are kept, noun use of neuter of aviārius pertaining to birds. See avi-, -ary

Explanation

An aviary is a place where birds are kept, such as a building at the zoo or a bird sanctuary. It can be a peaceful place to visit, but watch out for nasty surprises dropping from birds overhead. Aviary is formed from the Latin word for bird, avis, and the ending -ary, meaning “a place” (similar to the -arium in aquarium). Unlike birdcages for pets, aviaries are large enough to allow the captive birds room to fly around. They are often large enough for people to enter too. Be sure not to confuse aviary with apiary, which is a place for keeping bees, not birds.

Example Sentences

If time is tight, take the free narrated tram ride and stroll through the 25,000-square-foot open-air aviary, home to over 250 injured birds—including pelicans—that can’t be returned to the wild.

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2026

After being released into the new aviary, the vast majority of immigrants -- 80 percent -- switched their method immediately.

From Science Daily • Nov. 14, 2024

"We do have two birds in particular, Andrew and Hamish, who do like to go wandering," senior aviary team member Carlyn Cane told BBC Scotland News.

From BBC • Aug. 28, 2024

Mylene Mariette, a behavioral ecologist at Deakin University, and her team set out to answer that question with zebra finches held in an aviary on campus in Melbourne, Australia.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 24, 2024

They passed a dome-shaped aviary full of black-and-white impundulus, barely mindful to cover their heads as the birds beat their massive wings and sent sparks of lightning into the sky.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray