peck

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026

As a bonus, she even offers up her cheek for a peck, which is as affectionate as things get between them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 2, 2026

Mr Rubiales has always maintained the kiss was a "consensual peck" but in the wake of the incident he was forced to resign as president of the Spanish football federation.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024

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

From Washington Times ● Nov. 19, 2023

All was quiet, but as they paused at the top of the bank, a tussling pack of six or seven sparrows flew down to the line and began to peck about between the sleepers.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams

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

“And as they say, ‘The hen pecks grain by grain.’”

From Washington Post ● Dec. 22, 2022

If a chick pecks at a parent’s beak, it is asking for food, which comes in the form of partially digested fish.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 12, 2022

He pecks at it cautiously, but Rani snatches it away, saying it's bad for him, and feeds him a handful of seeds from her shoulder bag.

From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman

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

Sometimes, the crows displayed their dislike of four by refusing to utter a sound; instead, they simply pecked at the screen to end the trial.

From Science Magazine ● May 22, 2024

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

From NewsForKids.net ● Feb. 23, 2024

As the bird pecked at the Puffs, sunlight skipped off glossings of green and purple around its neck.

From "Wringer" by Jerry Spinelli

But Ramsdale quickly fell behind Raya in the pecking order in 2023-24 and lost his starting berth after just four league games.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Insult humor among male friends can be about bonding or establishing a pecking order.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

For many, the refusal to acknowledge any kind of pecking order will feel fresh, fun, validating and/or thought-provoking.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Haas have fallen down the pecking order as other teams have introduced upgrades and begun to get on top of the new rules.

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

He spat tobacco juice in an arc that just missed a Rhode Island Red pecking dirt in the swept yard.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns