seabird

American  

[see-burd] / ˈsiˌbɜrd /

Or sea bird

noun

1. a bird frequenting the sea or coast.

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Etymology

Origin of seabird

First recorded in 1580–90; sea + bird

Explanation

A seabird is any bird that lives most of its life near the sea (makes sense, right?). Gulls are one of the most common types of seabird. When you go to the beach, you're bound to sea at least some seabirds. The big gray and white seabirds that try to steal your lunch are gulls, and the tiny seabirds that look like wind-up toys running in a group along the tideline may be plovers. Most seabirds nest in large colonies, and most of them are also migratory, meaning they travel many miles during the course of a year, often circumnavigating the entire planet.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

seabird

"What we do know is that this is a coastal seabird that has an overlapping coastal range with migratory sea birds that have previously tested positive for H5."

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

"It is a seabird, a migratory species, and there is no indication that it has spread beyond those populations."

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

It says something about Diamond’s heat in the wake of “Hot August Night” that he scored a Top 40 hit with a song from a movie about an intrepid seabird.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026

In Wales, issues were also flagged at Skomer Island, internationally renowned as a wildlife haven, though seabird poo alongside "human impacts" were thought to be part of the picture there.

From BBC ● May 2, 2026

Then the faces turned back again, the seabird meeting started once more, and Lancelot came forward to kiss the King’s hand.

From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White