rare bird

English

Etymology

Calque of Latin rāra avis, part of a commonly quoted line from Juvenal's Satire VI: rara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno ("a bird as rare upon the earth as a black swan").

Noun

rare bird (plural rare birds)

1. (figurative) An unusual or exceptional person or thing.

   Synonym: rara avis

   • 1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 86:

     An occasional Afghan makes a good bushman. These rare birds, with the help of natives, found that by winding in and out over the soft ground of the valleys they could bring a camel-train where no wheeled transport could go.

   • 1977, “106 Beats That”, in Pink Flag, performed by Wire:

     Finds it more physical, that's an important word / Always seen first then heard / Such a rare bird

   • 2004, Suze Orman, The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke, page 95:

     If you are one of the rare birds who doesn't have a FICO score, or if your score is so low that you can't get a credit card, I want you to get a secured credit card.

   • 2010 October 14, “Coming back to bite him”, in The Economist:

     This makes him a rare bird, for most Democrats running for re-election are staying mum or apologising for their votes for reform.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see rare,‎ bird.

Translations

unusual or exceptional person or thing — see rara avis

See also

• strange bird