water bird

American  

noun

1. an aquatic bird; a swimming or wading bird.

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water bird British  

noun

1. any aquatic bird, including the wading and swimming birds

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Etymology

Origin of water bird

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

While there have been many studies of water birds and animals such as porpoises and dolphins diving from air into water, interactions between animals and the air-snow interface have not been well-researched.

From Science Daily

“Flamingos are really important water birds,” King points out.

From Science Magazine

So he went all-out in a humorous campaign for his favored bird, the pūteketeke, a water bird, on his HBO show “Last Week Tonight.”

From Seattle Times

Bewick's swans, a migratory water bird that breeds south of the Barents Sea in European Russia, is now seen much less often in the Netherlands than in previous years.

From Science Daily

Among the wild birds hit the hardest are water birds like ducks and geese.

From NewsForKids.net