redbird
Definition
Noun: 1. A common name for the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), a North American songbird. The male is noted for its brilliant, uniform red plumage, a prominent crest on its head, and a thick, conical red bill. Females are tan or olive with reddish tinges. 2. A common name for the Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), a North American songbird. The breeding male is bright red with black wings and tail. Females and non-breeding males are olive-yellow.
Usage
- The redbird is a popular sight at backyard bird feeders, especially in the eastern United States.
- I was thrilled to see a brilliant male redbird perched on the fence this morning.
- While both are called redbird, the Northern Cardinal and the Scarlet Tanager are from different bird families.
Advanced Usage
- The term "redbird" is primarily used in informal, regional American English. In formal ornithological contexts, the specific species names (Northern Cardinal, Scarlet Tanager) are preferred to avoid ambiguity.
- It can be used poetically or descriptively to evoke the color and vibrancy of the bird.
- A flash of redbird shot across the gray winter sky.
Variants and Related Words
- Cardinal: The more widespread and formal common name for .
- Scarlet Tanager: The more precise common name for .
- Redbird cactus (Pedilanthus tithymaloides): A completely unrelated succulent plant, named for its red, bird-shaped flowers.
Synonyms
- For the Northern Cardinal: Cardinal, Common Cardinal.
- For the Scarlet Tanager: Scarlet Tanager, Firebird (regional).
Related Idioms or Phrases
- (As) red as a redbird: A simile describing something as a vivid, bright red color.
- Her cheeks were as red as a redbird after running in the cold.
Noun
-
crested thick-billed North American finch having bright red plumage in the male
-
the male is bright red with black wings and tail
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