seabird

American  

[see-burd] / ˈsiˌbɜrd /

Or sea bird

noun

1. a bird frequenting the sea or coast.

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Etymology

Origin of seabird

First recorded in 1580–90; sea + bird

Explanation

A seabird is any bird that lives most of its life near the sea (makes sense, right?). Gulls are one of the most common types of seabird. When you go to the beach, you're bound to sea at least some seabirds. The big gray and white seabirds that try to steal your lunch are gulls, and the tiny seabirds that look like wind-up toys running in a group along the tideline may be plovers. Most seabirds nest in large colonies, and most of them are also migratory, meaning they travel many miles during the course of a year, often circumnavigating the entire planet.

Example Sentences

"Colonial-era writings we studied report that communities across coastal Peru and northern Chile sailed to several nearby islands on rafts to collect seabird droppings for fertilization."

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

"Once identified we need to implement appropriate management measures to bring about seabird recovery," she added.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

But a particularly dangerous strain of the disease was detected in April 2024 by Chilean researcher Victor Neira and his team in five skuas, a type of polar seabird.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Mainland seabird colonies and other coastal species may become increasingly vulnerable.

From Science Daily • Feb. 8, 2026

A gigantic seabird flew through Raymie’s brain, its talons extended.

From "Raymie Nightingale" by Kate DiCamillo