DCHP-1 Online

snowbird

• 1 n. the snow bunting, or, less often, the slate-colored junco, Junco hiemalis.

  See also: snow bunting  

  • 1749  A few Days before our leaving the Creek, we saw several Flocks of snow Birds.
  • 1792  (1934)  The Snow Birds made their first appearance, an unerring harbinger of Spring.
  • 1861  Prince Edward Island has . . . her birds of color, such as the Blue-bird . . . the Snow-bird, and the Cherry-bird.
  • 1958  While the limited supply lasted, Cheneau could fill the orders of favored customers for the succulent little sparrow-sized snowbirds, whose flavor has delighted French and French Canadian gourmets [for centuries].
  • 1963  As I rode nearer, the snowfield turned to a blizzard of flying snowbirds.

• 2 n. a gray, crestless jay, Perisoreus canadensis.

  See also: Canada jay  

  • 1959  Grey Jay [is also called] snow bird (From being seen in the snowy season. "Labr."). . . .