: any of a suborder (Charadrii) of birds (such as a plover or sandpiper) that frequent the seashore

Examples of shorebird in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Be sure to also keep an eye out for local wildlife, including nesting shorebirds and deer grazing near the water's edge. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026 Their prey includes pigeons, ducks, shorebirds and starlings — fast, agile fliers that are capable of making sudden evasive turns. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026 Upon arrival, the constant chime of notifications stops, replaced by the sounds of Gulf waves, the rustling of marsh grasses, and the calls of shorebirds. Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 19 May 2026 Beilke said killdeer are a type of shorebird considered close relatives to the endangered piping plovers best known in Chicago for their appearances on Montrose Beach. Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shorebird

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shorebird was circa 1672

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shorebird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shorebird. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

shorebird

noun
: any of a group of birds (as a plover or sandpiper) that frequent the seashore
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!