Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun In ornithology, an aquatic as distinguished from a terrestrial or aërial bird; in the plural, the grallatorial and natatorial or wading and swimming birds, collectively distinguished from land-birds.
Etymologies
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Examples
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Loss of breeding area habitat projected by two different general circulation models for arctic water-bird species, and their globally threatened status (based on [29]).
Recent and projected changes in arctic species distributions and potential ranges 2009
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Myra gave a little lesson on water-bird beak function.
MORE FROM GINNY BATES: AT THE BEACH IN 1994 Maggie Jochild 2007
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Vegetation models [26] combined with maps of water-bird distributions show a large variation in the impact of projected vegetation changes on 25 selected species [27].
Recent and projected changes in arctic species distributions and potential ranges 2009
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For two of the three water-bird species that are considered globally threatened, namely the red-breasted goose (Branta ruficollis) and the spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmaeus), 67 and 57% of their current breeding range is projected to change from tundra to forest, respectively (Table 7.7).
Recent and projected changes in arctic species distributions and potential ranges 2009
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A white water-bird of the size of a large goose, called
Travels in Nubia 2004
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And seeing a water-bird fly upwards, he took his bow and shot it through the heart, and it fell among the rose-gatherers.
The Epic of Kings Firdausi 2002
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No visible means of motion could be detected; no sail or oars were there in the fairy boat -- there was nothing mechanical about it; but it sped on its way like a water-bird or a graceful nautilus.
Holidays at the Grange or A Week's Delight Games and Stories for Parlor and Fireside Emily Mayer Higgins
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The prairie solitude, the summer evening landscape, the night wind of autumn, the water-bird flitting homeward through the twilight -- such are the favorite subjects of inspiration.
International Weekly Miscellany - Volume 1, No. 6, August 5, 1850 Various
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A small black water-bird, about the size of a pigeon, with a white neck and a black ring round it, was observed, but not near enough to enable us to ascertain its species.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia Performed between the years 1818 and 1822 — Volume 1 Phillip Parker King
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You're a water-bird; and you don't mind a wetting.
The Tale of Old Mr. Crow Arthur Scott Bailey 1913
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