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ミズナギドリ (mizunagidori) Japanese meaning: petrel | Kotomora
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The petrel is a seabird that flies just above the water surface.
Flocks of shearwaters are often seen in this sea area.
Related words アホウドリ Albatross; a larger seabird with longer wings, known for dynamic soaring rather than the low skimming flight of petrels.
ウミツバメ Storm petrel; a smaller relative that also flies low over water, but often patters its feet on the surface.
Written forms ミズナギドリ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this bird name; usually written in kana.
水みず 薙なぎ 鳥どり
Rare kanji spelling; the character 薙 means 'mow down', referring to the bird's low flight over water.
水みず 凪なぎ 鳥どり
Rare kanji spelling; 凪 means 'calm', perhaps referring to the bird's gliding flight.
Etymology The name ミズナギドリ (水薙鳥) literally means 'water-mowing bird', from the way these birds fly low over the sea as if mowing the surface. The kanji 薙 means 'to mow down'.
