Wiktionary
bird colonel
n. (context US slang military English) A member of the U. S. armed forces having the rank of full colonel, as distinct from a lieutenant colonel.
Usage examples of "bird colonel".
If the bartender found it unusual that a full bird colonel in dress greens was drinking in the middle of the afternoon he didn't let on.
Ben said, nodding toward a bird colonel running with his M-16 at port arms.