Wiktionary
n. Any of various papilionid butterfly of exceptionally large size with angular wings.
Wikipedia
Birdwings are butterflies in the Swallowtail family, that belong to the genera Trogonoptera, Troides, and Ornithoptera. Most recent authorities recognise 36 species, however, this is debated, and some authorities include additional genera. Birdwings are named for their exceptional size, angular wings, and birdlike flight. They are native to the Indian Subcontinent, mainland and archipelagic Southeast Asia, and Australasia.
Included among the birdwings are some of the largest butterflies in the world: the largest, Queen Alexandra's Birdwing; the second largest, the Goliath Birdwing; the largest butterfly endemic to Australia, the Cairns Birdwing; and the largest butterfly in India, the Southern Birdwing. Another well-known species is Rajah Brooke's Birdwing, a particularly attractive species named after Sir James Brooke, the first White Rajah of 19th century Sarawak.
Due to their size and brightly coloured males, they are popular among collectors of butterflies, but all birdwings are now listed by CITES, thereby limiting (and in the case of O. alexandrae completely banning) international trade.
Usage examples of "birdwing".
The birdwing sail had been in use on some of our smaller craft for two or three generations, but it was Captain-General Collerne who thought to use it on a warship.
And his eyes under the birdwing brows begged me, (Say it, say it) "Kill him.
Fireflies glittered in the gathering dusk and, here and there, birdwing butterflies as large across as So-Peng's head made their last foray of the day.
Nearby, Asperveden was waltzing with a birdwing butterfly, letting it flutter from one truhand to another.
Dreams came of huge white things like giant birdwings without the bird, sailing across the sky.