shorebird

noun

shore·​bird ˈshȯr-ˌbərd How to pronounce shorebird (audio)
: any of a suborder (Charadrii) of birds (such as a plover or sandpiper) that frequent the seashore

Examples of shorebird in a Sentence

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These tiny, fluffy shorebirds—from a bird family known as peeps—touch down here on their way from South and Central America to the Arctic. — Alexandra Marvar, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 Waterfowl and shorebirds are natural hosts of avian influenza viruses, the Ojai Raptor Center said, eagles like Jackie can be exposed through contact with infected birds or infected prey. — Allison Gibson, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Since 1980, roughly half of migratory shorebird species’ populations have declined by more than fifty per cent. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 When not in use, the beds would fill with rainwater, and bird enthusiasts went there to view shorebirds, waterfowl and other species that used the site as a stopover point during migration seasons. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shorebird

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shorebird was circa 1672

Rhymes for shorebird

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Browse Nearby Words

Shorea
shorebird
shore boat
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Cite this Entry

“Shorebird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shorebird. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shorebird

noun
shore·​bird ˈshō(ə)r-ˌbərd How to pronounce shorebird (audio)
ˈshȯ(ə)r-
: any of a group of birds (as a plover or sandpiper) that frequent the seashore
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