1.
seabird
A bird that lives primarily in and around the sea, such as gulls, albatrosses, and petrels. A general term for birds adapted to marine environments.
海鳥が空を飛んでいる。
Seabirds are flying in the sky.
この島は海鳥の繁殖地として知られている。
This island is known as a breeding ground for seabirds.
港の近くで海鳥の群れが魚を追いかけている様子が見えた。
Near the harbor, I could see a flock of seabirds chasing fish.
USAGE:
A straightforward compound of 海 (sea) + 鳥 (bird), with rendaku changing とり to どり. The word is also sometimes read as かいちょう in more scientific or formal contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 海鳥の群れ (a flock of seabirds)
- 海鳥の繁殖地 (seabird breeding ground)
- 海鳥が舞う (seabirds soar)
SIMILAR WORDS:
野鳥 (wild bird) is a broader term for any wild bird. 水鳥 (waterbird, waterfowl) includes freshwater birds as well.