The idea for the Describing Words engine came when I was building the engine for Related Words (it’s like a thesaurus, but gives you a much broader set of related words, rather than just synonyms). While playing around with word vectors and the «HasProperty» API of conceptnet, I had a bit of fun trying to get the adjectives which commonly describe a word. Eventually I realised that there’s a much better way of doing this: parse books!
Project Gutenberg was the initial corpus, but the parser got greedier and greedier and I ended up feeding it somewhere around 100 gigabytes of text files — mostly fiction, including many contemporary works. The parser simply looks through each book and pulls out the various descriptions of nouns.
Hopefully it’s more than just a novelty and some people will actually find it useful for their writing and brainstorming, but one neat little thing to try is to compare two nouns which are similar, but different in some significant way — for example, gender is interesting: «woman» versus «man» and «boy» versus «girl». On an inital quick analysis it seems that authors of fiction are at least 4x more likely to describe women (as opposed to men) with beauty-related terms (regarding their weight, features and general attractiveness). In fact, «beautiful» is possibly the most widely used adjective for women in all of the world’s literature, which is quite in line with the general unidimensional representation of women in many other media forms. If anyone wants to do further research into this, let me know and I can give you a lot more data (for example, there are about 25000 different entries for «woman» — too many to show here).
The blueness of the results represents their relative frequency. You can hover over an item for a second and the frequency score should pop up. The «uniqueness» sorting is default, and thanks to my Complicated Algorithm™, it orders them by the adjectives’ uniqueness to that particular noun relative to other nouns (it’s actually pretty simple). As you’d expect, you can click the «Sort By Usage Frequency» button to adjectives by their usage frequency for that noun.
Special thanks to the contributors of the open-source mongodb which was used in this project.
Please note that Describing Words uses third party scripts (such as Google Analytics and advertisements) which use cookies. To learn more, see the privacy policy.
Birds are vertebrate animals adapted for flight. Many also can run, jump, swim, and dive. Some, like penguins, have lost the ability to fly but have kept their wings. Birds are found all over the world and in all habitats. The largest is the 30-foot-long [9 m] ostrich. The smallest is a two-inch-long [2 cm] hummingbird.
Adjective Words to Describe Birds
Following are common adjectives to describe birds and their sounds in writing:
| Great | Live | Sea |
| Beautiful | Tame | Startled |
| Colored | Innumerable | Sacred |
| Speaking | Male | Silly |
| Poor | Noble | Migratory |
| White | Brown | Frightened |
| Black | Snow | Divine |
| Strange | Happy | Solitary |
| Dead | Flying | Melodious |
| Fine | Sky | Primitive |
| Earliest | Warbling | Petted |
| Red | American | Wandering |
| Certain | Commonest | Dicky |
| Aquatic | Brilliant | Humming |
| Canary | Unclean | Fierce |
| Blue | Wise | Female |
| Rare | Tiny | Gayer |
| Winged | Wounded | Unknown |
| Powerful | Passing | Noisy |
| Mere | Mocking | Indian |
| Evil | Chirping | True |
| Stray | Wretched | Little |
| Stuffed | Royal | Tropical |
Everything about a bird’s shape demonstrates its ability to fly. Wings, for example, are designed to build heights. The leading edge is thicker than the back edge, and is covered with small feathers to the point. The wings of an airplane are imitated behind the wings of birds.
The bones and muscles of the wings are also very special. The main, humorous bone, resembling the upper arm of a mammal, has nothing but strength. It also communicates with the bird’s air system, which in turn communicates with its lungs. The muscles of the powerful plane of the shoulder attach to the keel, a special bone wall that runs down the center of the broad sternum, or chest bone. Tail feathers are used for steering.
Birds have a unique digestive system that allows them to eat when they can—usually on the fly—and digest later. They use their beaks to grab and swallow food. Even the way a bird reproduces is related to flight. Instead of carrying the extra weight of developing young inside their bodies, they lay eggs and incubate them in a nest.
Quick Links
- Adjectives to Describe Animals
- List of Animal Sounds
- Words to Describe Cats and Kitten
Birds are fascinating creatures that come in all shapes and sizes. From the majestic bald eagle to the tiny hummingbird, birds are known for their beauty, grace, and variety. In this blog post, we’ll explore some words that begin with the letter “b” to describe the many different attributes of birds.
- Beautiful: Birds are known for their stunning colors and intricate patterns. From the vibrant plumage of the tropical parrot to the delicate pastels of the spring warbler, birds are a feast for the eyes.
- Bright: Many birds have brightly colored feathers, such as the yellow of the canary or the orange of the Baltimore oriole. Brightly colored birds are often more easily spotted, making them popular among bird watchers.
- Bold: Birds can be bold and daring in their behavior, such as the red-tailed hawk diving to catch its prey or the bald eagle soaring high in the sky.
- Brave: Birds can be fearless, such as the tiny hummingbird defending its territory against larger birds or the mother osprey risking her life to protect her chicks.
- Balanced: Birds are known for their agility and balance, able to fly, perch, and walk on branches with ease. This balance is necessary for many aspects of their life, like hunting, escaping from predators, and moving around their habitat.
- Beaked: Birds are known for having a beak and stiff, pointed, and hooked upper and lower jaws used for eating, preening, and building nests.
- Beautiful voice: Many birds have beautiful voices, such as the song sparrow, the nightingale, and the mockingbird. These voices are used for territory marking and attracting mates.
In conclusion, birds are diverse creatures with many different attributes, each one starting with the letter “b.” They are beautiful, bright, bold, brave, balanced, beaked, and blessed with beautiful songs. With so many words to describe birds, it’s no wonder that people are so fascinated by these amazing animals.
«Those little birds, which cost me five pieces, I shall divide between my terrestrial friend here (looking at the Brahmin) and myself, we being the most meritorious of the company, and it being of the utmost importance to society, that food so wholesome should give nourishment to our bodies, and impart vigour and vivacity to our minds.
The money had been expended in the purchase of a disreputable old canary bird, for which Noaks, the manservant, had agreed to find board and lodging during the Christmas vacation.
Some day this shy, sweet bird would nestle against his heart.
At first, I feared my rare bird had flitted; I shook the bit of flying—jib that answered for a door, and called to any one within, more than once, before an inmate stirred.
You will see the prettiest birds in all the world dressed in the brightest reds and greens and blues and purples.
Some day this shy, sweet bird would nestle against his heart.
The third was a shy, mysterious little brown bird, peering out of the clustering leaves, and making a sound like the soft ticking of a clock.
The Swallows‘ swift flight carries them far and wide, for not only do they make homes all through North America, but they are so sure of wing and confident of outstripping any cannibal birds who might try to chase them, that when they leave us they fly by day and often stop for a little visit in the West Indies on their way to South America.
The same is true of most other aquatic birds.
Like the wounded birds of a flock fired into toward nightfall, they came straggling on with faltering steps, many of them without bag or baggage, beast or barrow, all asking shelter or burial, and forcing a fresh repartition of the already divided rations of their friends.
He was a striking—looking man, tall, broad—shouldered, dignified, very gorgeously attired in light—blue satin, embroidered in bright—coloured flowers and gold and silver designs, and a splendid yellow bird of paradise in his cap.
We have known amateur fowl—keepersworthy souls, who would butter the very barley they gave their pets, if they thought they would the more enjoy itcoop up a male bird and three or four hens in an ordinary egg—chest placed on its side, and with the front closely barred with iron hooping!
Ravens are sacred birds to them, and are never molested in anyway.
THE SNIPE.This is a migratory bird, and is generally distributed over Europe.
« «There is among us,« I rejoined, «a saying about ‘breaking a butterfly on the wheel’as if one spoke of driving away the tiny birds that nestle and feed in your flowers with a hammer.
The Bey shot a kader, a handsome bird, rather larger than a partridge, with black wings, and flies like a plover.
Almost the only thing that stands out distinct in my memory from the confused recollections of the last morning spent in Louvain is a huge sight- seeing carof the sort known at home as a rubberneck wagonwhich lumbered by us with Red Cross men perched like roosting gray birds on all its seats.
Tropical birds sang or chattered in cages, and a learned but lawless parrot talked, swore, or made mischief, as he chose.
A number of brilliant birds fluttered at our approach.
Sixty islands lie upon this water, the haunt and home of innumerable birds.
A startled snow—bird chirped to her, as she passed.
There are several ways of carving this most familiar game bird.
But the Boy had only laughed, and caught up the baggage as the last whistle set the Rampart echoes flying, piping, like a lot of frightened birds.
Sometimes he was the beautiful white rabbit; then he would be a wolf or a wolverine; then he would be a lovely bird.
And all the while the broad still moon stared down on them grim and cold, as if with a saturnine sneer at the whole humbug; and the silly birds about whom all this butchery went on, slept quietly over their heads, every one with his head under his wing.
For the next few months, weekly writing tips will include word choice suggestions. That includes:
- colorful and original descriptions
- pithy words and phrases
- picture nouns and action verbs
- writing that draws a reader in and addicts them to your voice
I keep a collection of descriptions that have pulled me into the books. I’m fascinated how authors can–in just a few words–put me in the middle of their story and make me want to stay there. This one’s on how to describe birds.
A note: These are for inspiration only. They can’t be copied because they’ve been pulled directly from an author’s copyrighted manuscript (intellectual property is immediately copyrighted when published).
General
- The owl rose softly from the track, carrying the shining snake into the trees
- Eating snake without troubling to kill it
- watched the birds chirping and hopping across the tree limb
- chinking of the tinker bird
- see-saw creaking of the coqui francolin
- the lake birds, crying as they swooped low over the water
- birds serenaded the dawn
- squirrel chattered shrilly
- jays rasped in the morning and a chickaree
- wistful bird calls of the African night died one by one
- dawn scream of a fish eagle
- tinny notes of a trumpeter hornbill
- nasal, jeering squawk of a hadada ibis
- in a dead tree perched a motley selection of large birds
- On broad deltas of white sand, numerous water birds flew back and forth about their business.
Click for the complete list of 69 writer’s themed descriptions.
More bird-related collections:
How to Describe Nature
How to Describe a Landscape
How to Describe an African Landscape
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman
, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, and the thriller, To Hunt a Sub. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for TeachHUB, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. You can find her books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning. The sequel to To Hunt a Sub, Twenty-four Days, is scheduled for Summer, 2017. Click to follow its progress.
When it comes to describing birds, there are so many adjectives to choose from. From the majestic to the comical, birds come in all shapes and sizes and have a variety of characteristics that can be described with adjectives. In this article, we will explore some of the most common adjectives used to describe birds.
Majestic: Majestic is an adjective used to describe something that is grand and impressive. It is often used to describe birds that have a regal or noble appearance, such as eagles or hawks.
Graceful: Graceful is an adjective used to describe something that moves with ease and elegance. It is often used to describe birds that have a smooth and effortless flight, such as swans or cranes.
Colorful: Colorful is an adjective used to describe something that is bright and vibrant. It is often used to describe birds that have a variety of colors, such as parrots or toucans.
Vocal: Vocal is an adjective used to describe something that makes a lot of noise. It is often used to describe birds that are known for their loud and distinctive calls, such as crows or ravens.
Playful: Playful is an adjective used to describe something that is full of energy and enthusiasm. It is often used to describe birds that are known for their mischievous behavior, such as jays or magpies.
Agile: Agile is an adjective used to describe something that is quick and nimble. It is often used to describe birds that are known for their swift and acrobatic flight, such as hummingbirds or swallows.
Social: Social is an adjective used to describe something that is friendly and outgoing. It is often used to describe birds that are known for their gregarious behavior, such as geese or flamingos.
Intelligent: Intelligent is an adjective used to describe something that is clever and resourceful. It is often used to describe birds that are known for their problem-solving skills, such as crows or ravens.
Conclusion
From majestic to intelligent, there are so many adjectives that can be used to describe birds. Whether you are looking for a word to describe a bird’s appearance or behavior, there is sure to be an adjective that fits the bill.
FAQs
What are some adjectives used to describe birds?
Majestic, graceful, colorful, vocal, playful, agile, social, and intelligent are all adjectives used to describe birds.
What is the most common adjective used to describe birds?
The most common adjective used to describe birds is colorful, as many birds have a variety of vibrant colors.
What adjectives are used to describe birds that are known for their problem-solving skills?
Intelligent is an adjective used to describe birds that are known for their problem-solving skills.
I am James Jani here, a frequent Linguist, English Enthusiast & a renowned Grammar teacher, would love you share with you about my learning experience. Here I share with my community, students & with everyone on the internet, my tips & tricks to learn adjectives fast.
Reader Interactions
- How would you describe bird?
- What is the adjective for look at a bird?
- What words are associated with birds?
- What sounds do birds make?
- How do you describe a bird flying?
- How can you describe the birds motion?
- What are describing words?
- How would you describe a parrot?
- What adjectives describe a tree?
- What are the parts of a bird?
How would you describe bird?
any warm-blooded vertebrate of the class Aves, having a body covered with feathers, forelimbs modified into wings, scaly legs, a beak, and no teeth, and bearing young in a hard-shelled egg.
What is the adjective for look at a bird?
Explanation: birded; birding; birds.
What words are associated with birds?
beak, bird, bill, fly, egg, tail, flightless, flock, flight, birdhouse, feather, flight feathers, eagle, wing, chick, canary, aviary, incubate, sparrow, nest, nestling, migration, parrot, migrate, birdcage, pigeon, kiwi, rook, roost, rookery, peacock, raven, blackbird, magpie, budgie, budgerigar, ibis, parakeet, owl, …
What sounds do birds make?
Birds make tons of different sounds: chirps, rattles, whistles, trills, croaks, drumming, and many many more.
How do you describe a bird flying?
“When a bird is flying, their wings are flat so that the air flows easily around it in the direction the animal flies (like your hand cutting through the water or air). … So a bird wing slices in the air in the forward direction and gets pushed up from below; the net result is a flying bird!”
How can you describe the birds motion?
Birds’ wings flap with an up-and-down motion. This propels them forward. … A bird’s wing produces lift and thrust during the downstroke. The air is deflected downwards and also to the rear.
What are describing words?
A descriptive word is a word used to give details and more information. Examples of descriptive words include colors, sizes, shapes, textures, and numbers, to name a few!
How would you describe a parrot?
Description. Parrots are not very heavy, in relation to their size, and compact body with a large head and a short neck. Their beaks are short, strong and curved. The two parts of the beak are very strong and used to break fruits and seeds.
What adjectives describe a tree?
Here are some adjectives for trees: lonely alien, totally unharmed, tall primeval, tall ancestral, tall, verdant, mature rikbal, cheerfully shaggy, faintly greening, beautiful or beloved, specially beautiful or beloved, conspicuous dead, darkest and most severe, assorted carnivorous, now younger and thicker, healthy …
What are the parts of a bird?
Ornithologists talk about parts of a bird by dividing its body into topographical regions. The main divisions are beak (or bill), head, back, throat, breast, wings, tail, and legs.