woodpecker
/ˈwʊdˌpɛkər/A bird that hammers its beak into tree trunks to get at grubs.
Example: There's a woodpecker going at the dead ash every morning at seven.
B114 words · Intermediate
Birds vocabulary — B1
Bird vocabulary that names species learners meet in gardens, wetlands and the wild, including the woodpecker, kingfisher, falcon and heron.
14 questions
Words in this set
14kingfisher
/ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃər/A tiny brilliant blue bird that dives off a branch into the river.
Example:
A kingfisher went past like somebody had thrown a jewel.
falcon
/ˈfælkən/A hunting bird that dives at astonishing speed, once trained by kings.
Example:
A peregrine falcon nests on the cathedral tower every spring.
vulture
/ˈvʌltʃər/A bald-headed bird that circles high up and feeds on dead animals.
Example:
Once the vultures start dropping you know what they've found.
pelican
/ˈpɛləkən/A big water bird with a huge stretchy pouch slung under its beak.
Example:
A pelican landed on the rail and just stared at the fishermen.
stork
/stɔrk/A tall white wading bird that builds its nest on chimneys and rooftops.
Example:
Every roof in the village had a stork on it.
swallow
/ˈswɑloʊ/A small forked-tailed bird that skims the air for insects all summer.
Example:
The swallows are back in the barn, so that's spring sorted.
magpie
/ˈmæɡˌpaɪ/A black and white bird with a long tail and a taste for shiny things.
Example:
A magpie took a teaspoon off the patio table in broad daylight.
blackbird
/ˈblækbərd/A garden bird with a bright orange beak and a rich fluting song.
Example:
A blackbird sings from that aerial every evening until it's dark.
nightingale
/ˈnaɪtɪŋɡeɪl/A plain brown bird famous for singing beautifully in the dark.
Example:
We stood in the lane at midnight listening to a nightingale.
canary
/kəˈnɛri/A small yellow cage bird once carried down mines as a warning.
Example:
My gran kept a canary in the front room for twenty years.
budgie
A small green or blue cage parrot that can be taught a few words.
Example:
Their budgie says the dog's name and nothing else.
cuckoo
/ˈkʌˌku/A bird that lays its eggs in other birds' nests and leaves them to it.
Example:
You hear the first cuckoo and everyone texts about it.
heron
/ˈhɛrən/A grey long-necked bird that stands motionless in shallow water waiting for fish.
Example:
A heron has had every last one of the goldfish out of that pond.
