corvid

noun

cor·​vid ˈkȯr-vəd How to pronounce corvid (audio)
: any of a family (Corvidae) of stout-billed passerine birds including the crows, jays, magpies, and the raven

Examples of corvid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Crows and ravens belong to the same corvid family and are often confused for each other, but there are ways to tell them apart. Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024 Only a few birds–chicken, ostrich, and duck-like creatures–made it across the extinction line, giving rise to the dizzying array of modern birds: From songbirds to corvids to parrots. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 31 July 2024 The study adds to the growing laundry list of cognitive abilities that corvids (the bird family including crows, ravens, magpies, and jays) possess. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 23 May 2024 Jackdaws are clever corvids that belong to the same family as crows and ravens. Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for corvid 

Word History

Etymology

from stem of New Latin Corvidae, from Corvus, a genus (going back to Latin corvus "raven") + -idae -idae — more at cornice

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of corvid was circa 1909

Dictionary Entries Near corvid

Cite this Entry

“Corvid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corvid. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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