Definitions

1. noun

a large seabird, especially one of the species of the genus Puffinus, that nests in New Zealand and is often hunted for its meat.

“The Māori people traditionally relied on muttonbirds as a source of food and oil.”

2. noun

a colloquial or poetic term for the common murre, especially the common guillemot (Uria aalge).

“The muttonbirds were seen in large numbers on the rocky coast.”