peck

But, in the foreground, magpies and crows are already swarming to peck at the soil.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

Brian’s home sits on a dirt lot, where several chickens peck at the weeds next to a table under a large tarp that blocks the sun during hot summer months.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 20, 2025

The girl turned away before he could give her a peck on the head.

From Washington Times ● Nov. 19, 2023

Baby birds, for example, will see the red area on the mother's beak and peck at it.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2023

She comes down the patio and gives Vic a little peck on the cheek, whispering as she does, "I've told them he's been playing tennis with you."

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez

Back in Beadnell, on the kind of grey blustery day when the rain pecks at your face, the Craster Arms has a steady stream of windbent visitors.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

While some of the pecks are small, he said, “in the most extreme cases, the largest wounds can cover a big portion of the calves’ back and can be one meter long or even bigger.”

From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2023

Every time the feisty bird's beak makes contact with the hard surface — at up to 20 pecks per second — the impact vibrates throughout its head and neck.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2022

The two had already exchanged a few friendly words and more customary pecks on the cheeks before the kiss.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 19, 2020

She semi-quotes the song and pecks my forehead.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Arkansas pecked out a deal with Arkansas-based Tyson Foods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

But surely some American women can relate to feeling pecked or prodded, and pushed aside when they reach middle age.

From New York Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

But it does need to survive being pecked by a bird or chewed by other small animals.

From NewsForKids.net ● Feb. 23, 2024

Each week, they found, about 25% of these decoys had been pecked.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 19, 2023

When the pigeon on Victor's head leaned forward and pecked at the glass of his fake glasses, Bo giggled.

From "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Funke

The internet stirs, French’s ragebait gets a moment and suddenly I’m pecking laptop keys about a race…for the Texas Railroad Commission?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

In pre-season, the Croatian appeared to be Maresca's first choice holding midfielder but has since slid down the pecking order.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

They're slipping down the pecking order and they're the only team not using the budget cap in full.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Perhaps the Chargers’ first preseason game — and who plays first, most or not at all during it — will indicate a pecking order.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

They kept pecking and pecking at the keys, until finally I put some more paper in it to show them how it’s done.

From "Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer" by Kelly Jones