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bird of prey
noun phrase
: a carnivorous bird (such as a hawk, eagle, vulture, or owl) that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : raptor
Examples of bird of prey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Recently, owls and other birds of prey were found dead, suggesting some wild animals had been stricken with the virus.
—Evan Bush, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024
These include: Raptors at the Depot, where riders can see owls, eagles and other birds of prey and learn about native Sedona wildlife just before their ride.
—Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024
While the Americas are rife with all sorts of fearsome birds of prey—the golden eagle, Cooper's hawk and bald eagle, to name a few—there’s one raptor in particular that dominates the Neotropics.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
There were ample signs that whitetail, birds of prey, and other wildlife had been present in the area.
—Wes Siler, Outside Online, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bird of prey
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Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bird of prey was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to bird of prey
Dictionary Entries Near bird of prey
Cite this Entry
“Bird of prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20of%20prey. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
bird of prey
: a meat-eating bird (as a hawk) that feeds partly or completely on the animals it hunts
More from Merriam-Webster on bird of prey
Nglish: Translation of bird of prey for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bird of prey
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