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kingbird

American  
[king-burd] / ˈkɪŋˌbɜrd /

noun

  1. any of several American tyrant flycatchers of the genus Tyrannus, especially T. tyrannus eastern kingbird, of North America, known for their pugnacious disposition toward predators.


kingbird British  
/ ˈkɪŋˌbɜːd /

noun

  1. any of several large American flycatchers of the genus Tyrannus, esp T. tyrannus ( eastern kingbird or bee martin )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of kingbird

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80; king + bird

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Some of the costliest and most invasive construction is unfolding this month in Guadalupe Canyon, an oasis-like habitat for rare species of birds like the buff-collared nightjar and tropical kingbird.

From New York Times Nov. 28, 2020

Cummings used to describe the kingbird, they “leap upon the air.”

From New York Times Apr. 27, 2015

They quit early at dusk, satisfied at having spotted 129 species, including such rarities as the upland plover and the western kingbird.

From Time Magazine Archive

Under the deep grass of the meadow dwelt bobolinks and meadow larks; from the pasture rose the silver threadlike song of the savanna sparrow and the martial note of the kingbird.

From Upon The Tree-Tops by Miller, Olive Thorne

The wild lettuce yields down for the humming-bird's nest, and the flowers of whiteweed are used by the kingbird and cedar-bird.

From A Year in the Fields by Burroughs, John

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