Definition

1. Noun:
   • A species of pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) that was once abundant in North America but is now extinct: The passenger pigeon was characterized by its gregarious nature, forming enormous flocks during migration, and was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The last known passenger pigeon, named Martha, died in captivity in 1914.
  • Historical accounts describe skies darkening for days as massive flocks of passenger pigeons flew overhead.
  • The rapid extinction of the passenger pigeon serves as a powerful lesson in conservation.

Advanced Usage

• Used as a symbol or metaphor for extinction, human impact on nature, or lost abundance.
  • In his essay, the author used the passenger pigeon as a poignant symbol of humanity's careless destruction of the natural world.
  • The story of the passenger pigeon is a classic case study in ecology textbooks.

Variants and Related Words

• Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius): The full scientific name.
• Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura): A related, common North American pigeon species that is often confused with descriptions of the passenger pigeon but is not extinct.

Synonyms

• Ectopistes migratorius (Scientific name).
• Wild pigeon (Historical, non-specific term that often referred to this species).

Related Phrases

• "To go the way of the passenger pigeon": An idiom meaning to become extinct or obsolete.
  • Many fear that physical bookstores will go the way of the passenger pigeon.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "passenger pigeon" refers exclusively to this specific extinct species. It is a compound noun where "passenger" is thought to derive from the French word "passager," meaning "passing by," referring to its migratory habits. It is not used to describe a pigeon that is currently a passenger on a vehicle or transport.

Noun

1. gregarious North American migratory pigeon now extinct