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rifle bird

American  
Or riflebird

noun

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


Etymology

Origin of rifle bird

First recorded in 1825–35

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.

Armed with a 12-bore sawn-off shotgun and a .22 rifle, Bird called victims over to his car during the rampage as if to ask the time, then shot them, the hearing was told.

From BBC

“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

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg