snowbird

American  

[snoh-burd] / ˈsnoʊˌbɜrd /

noun

1. any of various birds that winter in a cold, snowy climate, especially the dark-eyed junco and the snow bunting.

2. Informal. a person who vacations in or moves to a warmer climate during cold weather.

   Since 9/11, the ease with which Canadian snowbirds cross the U.S. border has changed.

3. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a person addicted to cocaine or heroine.

   The cocaine addiction of pre-talkies film star Alma Rubens earned her the unfortunate nickname “Silent Snowbird.”

---

snowbird British  

/ ˈsnəʊˌbɜːd /

noun

1. another name for the snow bunting

2. slang a person addicted to cocaine, or sometimes heroin

---

Etymology

Origin of snowbird

First recorded in 1665–75; snow (in the sense “precipitation; snowflake”) + bird; 1910–15 snowbird for def. 3, with snow (in the sense “cocaine or heroin”)

Example Sentences

Jerry Kraus, a snowbird from Utica, N.Y., who works at Clover Park during spring training, seemed to have the right idea, leaving the Northeast for Florida when the weather gets dicey.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2024

Following my snowbird life, I left Maine in late October and was in Florida when Jen died the following February.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2023

NEW UPDATE: The snowbird church member who let my #Sanibel parents shelter in his #FortMyers home is letting them stay for as long as they need – even if it's months.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2022

Whitmer’s office has said her father, Richard Whitmer - a snowbird who also lives in Michigan - is “battling a chronic condition.”

From Washington Times • May 7, 2021

The snowbird people from cold places like Michigan and Canada suddenly start to wander into El Caribe to make it even more crowded.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina