bird strike: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low/MediumFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “bird strike” mean?
A collision between a bird or flock of birds and an aircraft, typically in flight, which can damage the plane.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A collision between a bird or flock of birds and an aircraft, typically in flight, which can damage the plane.
An aviation incident caused by the impact of one or more birds with an aircraft, posing a significant safety risk, especially to engines and the windshield. It is also used metaphorically in some contexts for any sudden, damaging collision with a bird.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences; both use the same term. Potential minor differences in reporting regulations or wildlife management terminology do not affect the term itself.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects: a serious safety and operational hazard.
Frequency
Equal frequency in aviation contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “bird strike” in a Sentence
The aircraft [verb: experienced/suffered/sustained] a bird strike.A bird strike [verb: occurred/happened/took place] during takeoff.Airports take measures to [verb: reduce/minimize/mitigate] the risk of bird strikes.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bird strike” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Airbus was forced to return after it bird-struck a gull.
- The pilot reported they had just bird-struck.
American English
- The Boeing bird-struck a flock of geese on approach.
- The engine was inspected after bird-striking.
adverb
British English
- [Very rare; not standard usage]
American English
- [Very rare; not standard usage]
adjective
British English
- The airport has a comprehensive bird-strike prevention programme.
- Bird-strike data was reviewed by the safety board.
American English
- The airline reviewed its bird-strike risk assessment.
- Bird-strike mitigation is a key safety goal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Discussed in airline operational reports, insurance claims, and airport management meetings regarding safety and delays.
Academic
Used in aviation safety studies, wildlife management papers, and aeronautical engineering research on engine design.
Everyday
Rarely used; appears in news reports about flight incidents or delays.
Technical
Standard term in pilot reports (PIREPs), air traffic control communications, maintenance logs, and aviation safety databases.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bird strike”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bird strike”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bird strike”
- Using 'bird attack' (implies intent).
- Using plural 'birds strike' as a verb phrase (e.g., 'Birds strike the plane') instead of the noun compound 'bird strike'.
- Misspelling as 'birdstrike' (though sometimes seen, the spaced form is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, bird strikes are a major hazard for all aircraft, including large commercial jets. Ingestion into jet engines can cause catastrophic failure.
Pilots are trained to follow specific checklists, which may include assessing engine performance, declaring an emergency if necessary, and returning to land for a full safety inspection.
While not 100% preventable, risks are mitigated through airport wildlife management (grass length, habitat control), bird detection radar, and designing engines to better withstand ingestions.
'Wildlife strike' is a broader category that includes collisions with birds, mammals (like deer on runways), and bats. 'Bird strike' is a specific type of wildlife strike.
A collision between a bird or flock of birds and an aircraft, typically in flight, which can damage the plane.
Bird strike is usually formal / technical in register.
Bird strike: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːd ˌstraɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɝːd ˌstraɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird on STRIKE, flying directly into a plane instead of away from it.
Conceptual Metaphor
BIRDS ARE PROJECTILES / AVIATION HAZARDS ARE STRIKES (cf. 'lightning strike').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'bird strike' MOST appropriately used?