"Rare bird" is an idiom that means a person or thing is unusual, uncommon, or exceptional. It can also be used as a compliment to describe someone as unique or exceptional. For example, you might say "That wife of yours is a rare bird; you're lucky to have her".
Here are some examples of "rare bird" in a sentence:
- "The little diner is a rare bird in a city full of expensive restaurants".
- "He's a rare bird in British cinema, and I'm just pleased he's getting some recognition".
The idiom comes from the Latin phrase rara avis, which has been used since around 1600. The earliest known use of the noun "rare bird" in English is from 1553.