cage bird

noun

1. a bird that is commonly kept in a cage as a pet.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cage bird¹

First recorded in 1620–30

Example Sentences

But Bowser’s proposed legislation would eliminate any wiggle room in the law for urban chicken-keeping, explicitly stating that chickens are not a “common cage bird” of the kind exempted by the regulations and giving the mayor power to “regulate the keeping of dogs, fowls, and other animals . . . to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.”

From Washington Post

The cage bird trade in Asia is also driving many feathered species towards extinction, including the spectacular sunset lorikeet.

From The Guardian

The cage bird trade in Indonesia is massive. It’s almost unbelievable. While a relatively small number of species are captive bred, millions of birds are captured from the wild for the trade each year. Its impact is terrifying.

From National Geographic

She was 86 years old, a celebrated poet, author, activist, actress and journalist whose most famous work, the 1969 memoir “I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings,” is widely seen as a touchstone of the civil rights movement and a classic of 20th century American literature.

From Salon

Angelou became an author at the age of 41 when she wrote her memoir I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings, which was followed by various works, ranging from autobiographies to children’s books and song lyrics for a musical.

From Time