Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, brightly colored bird found in Old World tropical regions, characterized by a short, wide bill.
   • A freshwater duck of the Northern Hemisphere, specifically the shoveler, noted for its broad, flat bill.
   • A diving duck of North America, such as the greater or lesser scaup, recognized by its bluish-grey bill.
   • A tropical American heron, related to night herons.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We spotted a colorful broadbill in the rainforest canopy.
  • The northern broadbill, or shoveler, uses its bill to filter food from the water.
  • A flock of broadbills, likely scaup, dove for mollusks in the lake.
  • The boat-billed heron is a type of broadbill found in mangroves.

Advanced Usage

• The term broadbill is primarily used in ornithology and birdwatching contexts to refer to specific bird groups sharing the characteristic of a wide bill.
• It is often qualified by a geographic or descriptive term (e.g., , [referring to the scaup]) to specify the exact species.

Variants and Related Words

• Eurylaimidae (n): The scientific family name for the Old World tropical broadbills.
• Shoveler (n): A common name for the Northern Hemisphere duck .
• Scaup (n): A common name for the North American diving duck .
• Boat-billed heron (n): A common name for the tropical American heron .

Synonyms

• For the duck: Shoveler, Spatula clypeata (scientific name).
• For the diving duck: Scaup, bluebill.
• For the heron: Cochlearius cochlearius (scientific name).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• : This adjective form describes the defining physical feature of these birds.
  • The broad-billed sandpiper is a different species.

Noun

1. small birds of the Old World tropics having bright plumage and short wide bills
2. freshwater duck of the northern hemisphere having a broad flat bill
3. diving ducks of North America having a bluish-grey bill
4. tropical American heron related to night herons