wading bird

noun

: any of an order (Ciconiiformes) of long-legged birds (such as herons, bitterns, storks, and ibises) that wade in water in search of food

Examples of wading bird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The large, wading bird typically nests in bald trees such as cypress, sweet gum and mangrove, which are found in Georgia, South Carolina and other coastal plain states. Kristi Swartz, AJC.com, 13 Feb. 2026 When the water dries out, the fish have limited places to go, and the wading birds eat the fish and so on, the scientists said. Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2026 Like other wetland and wading birds that were once found primarily in South Florida, today the wood stork can be seen in dozens of states to the north after breeding season concludes. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 Less rain also concentrates wildlife at watering holes, boosting your odds of spotting the Everglades’ iconic alligators and wading birds like the bright-pink roseate spoonbill. Sarah L. Stewart, Travel + Leisure, 10 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wading bird

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wading bird was in 1840

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Cite this Entry

“Wading bird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wading%20bird. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

wading bird

noun
: any of various long-legged birds (as herons, storks, and ibises) that wade in water in search of food

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