snowbird

noun

snow·​bird ˈsnō-ˌbərd 

1

: any of several birds (such as a junco or fieldfare) seen chiefly in winter

2

: one who travels to warm climes for the winter

Did you know?

Snowbird has been in use since the late 1600s, but it has only been applied to humans since the early 1900s. It was first used to describe men who enlisted in the armed forces to get food and clothing during the winter months and then deserted as the warm spring weather approached. Not long after, the term was applied to the northern laborers who would flock down south to work as the cold, harsh winter set in up north. Today, northerners of all kinds, from vacationers to retirees, can be seen migrating as soon as the first frost arrives.

Examples of snowbird in a Sentence

Like many of the state's snowbirds, they live in Florida from November through March.

Recent Examples on the Web

Vaccination faces additional challenges in a century-old Sarasota County neighborhood of low-slung bungalows called Pinecraft, home to about 3,000 Mennonites — and double that number when Amish snowbirds arrive in the winter. —Arthur Allen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025

Plan on being a snowbird come December? —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 22 Oct. 2025

As fall sets in and cooler temps prevail, the snowbird set is getting ready to head south for the winter. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 20 Oct. 2025

January to April is peak season on Sanibel; as springtime hits, temperatures hover in the mid-70s, and snowbirds and shellers arrive in droves. —Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for snowbird

• absurd
• averred
• bluebird
• byword
• catbird
• catchword
• concurred
• conferred
• cowbird
• cowherd
• crossword
• deferred

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Kids Definition

snowbird

noun

snow·​bird -bərd 

: any of several small birds (as a junco) seen chiefly in winter