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.
巣の中に幼鳥がいた。
There was a young bird in the nest.
この幼鳥はまだ飛ぶことができない。
This young bird still cannot fly.
幼鳥の羽の色は成鳥とは大きく異なるため、種類の判別が難しいことがある。
Because the feather color of young birds differs greatly from adults, it can be difficult to identify the species.
Composed of 幼 (young, immature) and 鳥 (bird). A straightforward compound used in nature observation and ornithology. The word pairs naturally with 成鳥 (adult bird) when discussing the stages of a bird's development.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 幼鳥を育てる: to raise a young bird
- 幼鳥の羽: feathers of a young bird
- 幼鳥が巣立つ: a young bird leaves the nest
RELATED TERMS:
- 成鳥: adult bird — the mature counterpart
- ひな: chick; hatchling — a newly hatched bird, younger stage than 幼鳥
- 雛鳥: baby bird — similar to ひな, emphasizing the very young stage
- 野鳥: wild bird — commonly used in birdwatching contexts