noun
- Plural of notornis; large, flightless rail birds native to New Zealand, characterized by bright plumage and short wings.
Usage: Chiefly British spelling; American English typically uses 'notornises' or 'notornises' interchangeably; Zoological term
Examples
- The notornises of New Zealand are among the rarest birds in the world.
- Conservation efforts have helped increase the population of notornises in recent decades.
- Notornises are flightless birds that inhabit the remote forests of New Zealand.
- The bright blue and green plumage of notornises makes them distinctive among rail species.
- Scientists study notornises to better understand the evolution of flightless birds.