Illustration of passenger pigeon
passenger pigeon
noun
: an extinct but formerly abundant North American migratory pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
Examples of passenger pigeon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The living room is furnished with moss-green velvet curtains and a painting of passenger pigeons that the artist Walton Ford made for Ms. Hoover.
—
Maggie Lange, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
When massive flocks of passenger pigeons arrived, communities gathered to hunt the birds, which were once an integral part of the American diet.
—Jared Del Rosso, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2024
And Answers For Friday, September 6 ‘The Rings Of Power’ Season 2, Episode 4 Review: Another Atrocious Disaster
In the 19th century, passenger pigeons—or Ectopistes migratorius—were so abundant that their flocks could stretch for miles, darkening the sky for hours.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
Martha The Passenger Pigeon Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, passed away on September 1, 1914, at the Cincinnati Zoo, bringing an end to a species that once filled the skies of North America.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for passenger pigeon 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Maggie Lange, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
When massive flocks of passenger pigeons arrived, communities gathered to hunt the birds, which were once an integral part of the American diet.
—Jared Del Rosso, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2024
And Answers For Friday, September 6 ‘The Rings Of Power’ Season 2, Episode 4 Review: Another Atrocious Disaster
In the 19th century, passenger pigeons—or Ectopistes migratorius—were so abundant that their flocks could stretch for miles, darkening the sky for hours.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
Martha The Passenger Pigeon Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, passed away on September 1, 1914, at the Cincinnati Zoo, bringing an end to a species that once filled the skies of North America.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 6 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for passenger pigeon
Dictionary Entries Near passenger pigeon
Cite this Entry
“Passenger pigeon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passenger%20pigeon. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share