渡(わた)り鳥(どり)

渡(わた)り鳥(どり) refers to birds that migrate seasonally. Figuratively it describes a person who keeps moving from place to place or job to job.

Etymology

• 渡(わた)り (crossing, migration) + 鳥(どり) (bird)

Types

Common migratory birds in Japan:

• 白鳥(はくちょう): swan (winter visitor)
• 雁(がん): wild goose (winter visitor)
• 鶴(つる): crane (winter visitor)
• ツバメ: swallow (summer visitor)

Related words

• 留鳥(りゅうちょう): resident bird (non-migratory)
• 夏鳥(なつどり): summer visitor (bird)
• 冬鳥(ふゆどり): winter visitor (bird)

Common collocations

• 渡(わた)り鳥(どり)が飛来(ひらい)する: migratory birds arrive
• 渡(わた)り鳥(どり)の群(む)れ: flock of migratory birds