幼鳥(ようちょう)

ようちょう
noun
young bird; fledgling; juvenile bird
natureanimal-bird
1. young bird; fledgling; juvenile bird
A bird that has hatched but has not yet reached adulthood. Used in birdwatching, nature writing, and zoology to distinguish immature birds, which often have different plumage from adults.
巣(す)の中(なか)に幼鳥(ようちょう)がいた。
There was a young bird in the nest.
この幼鳥(ようちょう)はまだ飛(と)ぶことができない。
This young bird still cannot fly.
幼鳥(ようちょう)の羽(はね)の色(いろ)は成鳥(せいちょう)とは大(おお)きく異(こと)なるため、種類(しゅるい)の判別(はんべつ)が難(むずか)しいことがある。
Because the feather color of young birds differs greatly from adults, it can be difficult to identify the species.

Composed of 幼(よう) (young, immature) and 鳥(ちょう) (bird). A straightforward compound used in nature observation and ornithology. The word pairs naturally with 成鳥(せいちょう) (adult bird) when discussing the stages of a bird's development.

Common collocations

Related words

  • 成鳥(せいちょう): adult bird — the mature counterpart
  • ひな: chick; hatchling — a newly hatched bird, younger stage than 幼鳥(ようちょう)
  • 雛鳥(ひなどり): baby bird — similar to ひな, emphasizing the very young stage
  • 野鳥(やちょう): wild bird — commonly used in birdwatching contexts

Related Words

Related: 雛(ひな) (chick)
Related: 雛鳥(ひなどり) (baby bird)
Related: 野鳥(やちょう) (wild bird)
general
Added 2026.5.1 1:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
26000/26318_youchou