wildfowl

American  

[wahyld-foul] / ˈwaɪldˌfaʊl /

noun

1. a game bird, especially a wild duck, goose, or swan.

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wildfowl British  

/ ˈwaɪldˌfaʊl /

noun

1. any bird that is hunted by man, esp any duck or similar aquatic bird

2. such birds collectively

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Other Word Forms

• wildfowler noun
• wildfowling adjective

Etymology

Origin of wildfowl

before 1000; Middle English wilde foul, Old English wildefugl. See wild, fowl

Example Sentences

Although the fox would attack the wildfowl on land, they are unable to do so once in the water.

From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026

The 64-year-old has a particular penchant for wildfowl shooting in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

Because of the flowering plant’s resemblance to the head of a crane, the colonists called the fruit “craneberries” and used it in sour sauces they served with wildfowl.

From Washington Post • Nov. 16, 2018

Higher concentrations of certain nitrogen isotopes are a sign of a diet rich in animals that have a relatively high place in the food web — such as wildfowl and freshwater fish.

From Scientific American • Aug. 18, 2014

After another cabresto-shot, which added ten wigeon to the bag, we reached the broad Arroyo de la Madre, which was "paved" with wildfowl in numbers that we cannot estimate.

From Wild Spain (Espa?a agreste) Records of Sport with Rifle, Rod, and Gun, Natural History Exploration by Buck, Walter J.