Flightless Bird (Noun)
Meaning
Flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birds.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The ostrich is a well-known example of a flightless bird that uses its powerful legs to run at high speeds instead of flying.
- Flightless birds, such as the kiwi and the emu, have evolved to lose the ability to fly over time due to their environments.
- The moa, a large flightless bird that once inhabited New Zealand, is now extinct due to overhunting by early human settlers.
- The cassowary, a large flightless bird native to Australia and New Guinea, is known for its distinctive casque, or crest, on its head.
- The rhea, a flightless bird found in South America, is often referred to as the "South American ostrich" due to its similar appearance and habits.