Synonyms

songbird

American

[sawng-burd, song-] / ˈsɔŋˌbɜrd, ˈsɒŋ- /

noun

a bird that sings.
any passerine bird of the suborder Oscines.
Slang. a woman vocalist.

songbird British

/ ˈsɒŋˌbɜːd /

noun

any passerine bird of the suborder Oscines, having highly developed vocal organs and, in most, a musical call
any bird having a musical call

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of songbird

First recorded in 1765–75; song + bird

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A philosopher, historian, songbird of grief and prophet, Didion foretold the city’s future with startling accuracy.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

As a small-scale songbird rehabilitator I am not equipped, for instance, to take on a pileated woodpecker, which can smash its way out of any enclosure not made of steel.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

Fortunately, these bats pose no threat to songbird populations.

From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025

For example, I was birding at the Magee Marsh boardwalk in Northwest Ohio, which during songbird migration is a popular birding spot.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2025

Pop Pop says he got it special for me because I’m his little songbird.

From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023