Word
songbird
Phoneticssong·bird, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɔŋˌbɝd/
UK/sˈɒŋbɜːd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a bird that sings with a pretty, musical voice, like a robin or nightingale. You often hear songbirds in gardens and parks in spring.
n. a perching bird with a developed vocal organ that produces varied musical songs. Typically refers to members of the oscine group, including thrushes, warblers, and finches.
Examples
“A songbird sings in the tree outside my window.”
“We wake early to hear the songbirds singing in the garden before the city gets noisy.”
“At dawn the marsh fills with songbirds, their layered calls weaving a bright chorus that fades as the sun climbs higher.”
Examples
simple
“A songbird sings in the tree outside my window.”
contextual
“We wake early to hear the songbirds singing in the garden before the city gets noisy.”
complex
“At dawn the marsh fills with songbirds, their layered calls weaving a bright chorus that fades as the sun climbs higher.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “songbird” in context.
Verb
01. attract songbird
“Planting berry bushes is a great way to attract songbirds to your garden.”
verb + noun
02. protect songbird
“New laws were passed to protect songbirds during their breeding season.”
verb + noun
03. songbird chirp
“I woke up to the sound of a songbird chirping outside my window.”
noun + verb
04. songbird nest
“A small songbird nested in the thick ivy covering the wall.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. melodious songbird
“The melodious songbird filled the morning air with its complex tune.”
adj + noun
06. migratory songbird
“Many migratory songbirds travel thousands of miles to reach their nesting grounds.”
adj + noun
07. native songbird
“The conservation project aims to protect native songbirds from invasive species.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. chorus of songbirds
“A dawn chorus of songbirds can be heard every morning in the woods.”
noun + prep + noun
09. decline in songbirds
“Scientists are concerned about the sharp decline in songbirds across the region.”
noun + prep + noun
10. habitat for songbirds
“The park provides a vital natural habitat for songbirds.”
11. listen to the songbirds
“We sat on the porch to listen to the songbirds in the trees.”
Real-World Examples
“About 4,000 of the world’s 10,000 bird species are songbirds, such as finches, sparrows and blackbirds.” “A new analysis reveals that songbirds across the world mix and match the same whistles, trills, and other acoustic motifs to create their diverse tunes.” “The chingolo is one of the 4,000 known species of songbirds in the world.” “But the songbirds have experienced significant population decline in recent decades and are now mostly confined to the Blue Mountains area.” Etymology
From song + bird.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/songbird