rare bird
Exceptionally unusual individual
A rare bird is an unusual or exceptional person—someone who stands out from the ordinary: A good manager who's also a good listener? That's a rare bird.
The phrase translates Latin *rara avis*, from a Roman satirist's description of a perfect wife as "a rare bird on earth." It occasionally describes actual uncommon birds, but the figurative sense dominates.
In short supply
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- elusiveHard to find
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
threatened · vanishing · dwindling · sporadic · sparse · few and far between · limited · exclusive
Eccentric individual
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- originalFirst or inventive
- misfitOne who doesn't fit in
bohemian · free spirit · individualist · lone wolf · character · outsider · rebel · iconoclast
Distant data point
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
- exceptionDeviation from standard
- deviationDeparture from expected path
- irregularityDeparture from standard
freak occurrence · curiosity · phenomenon · enigma · mystery · puzzle · paradox · incongruity
Person of rare brilliance
- savantPerson of profound learning
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- maestroDistinguished musical leader
- polymathMulti-domain expert
whiz · wizard · wunderkind · phenom · marvel · standout · luminary · mastermind
Polished precious stone
- jewelPrecious cut stone
- findLocate through effort
- discoveryAct of finding something
- prizeReward for winning
catch · collector's item · heirloom · artifact · masterpiece · antique · collectible · valuable
scarce
In short supply
- uncommonSeldom occurring or found
- infrequentHappening only occasionally
- elusiveHard to find
endangered · threatened · vanishing · dwindling · sporadic · sparse · few and far between · limited · exclusive · sought-after
oddball
Eccentric individual
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- originalFirst or inventive
misfit · bohemian · free spirit · individualist · lone wolf · character · outsider · rebel · iconoclast · wild card
outlier
Distant data point
- aberrationDeviation from the norm
- exceptionDeviation from standard
- deviationDeparture from expected path
irregularity · freak occurrence · curiosity · phenomenon · enigma · mystery · puzzle · paradox · incongruity · unprecedented
genius
Person of rare brilliance
- savantPerson of profound learning
- virtuosoSupremely accomplished performer
- maestroDistinguished musical leader
polymath · whiz · wizard · wunderkind · phenom · marvel · standout · luminary · mastermind · ace
gem
Polished precious stone
prize · catch · collector's item · heirloom · artifact · masterpiece · antique · collectible · valuable · priceless
quetzal
Tropical bird or currency
- cassowaryLarge flightless Australian bird
- kakapoFlightless New Zealand parrot
- kiwiFuzzy brown-skinned fruit
lyrebird · hornbill · shoebill · hoatzin · spoonbill · jabiru · hoopoe · motmot · bee-eater · roller
- bird expressionsbirdbrain, lovebirds, jailbird, night owl, wise owl
- rarityscarce, uncommon, infrequent, scant, few
- seldom seencomet, eclipse, aurora, shooting star, UFO
- birdingbirding, birdwatcher, birder, binoculars, field guide
- needle in a haystackhidden gem, diamond in the rough, buried treasure, one in a million, four-leaf clover
- sightingUFO sighting, ghost sighting, Bigfoot sighting, comet sighting, first sighting
rare birddime a dozen
Abundant and unremarkable
commonplace · run-of-the-mill · garden variety · ten a penny · common as muck
rare birdaverage Joe
Unremarkable common person
everyman · face in the crowd · nobody special · John Doe · plain vanilla
rare birdwallflower
Shy person avoiding socializing
nonentity · cipher · nobody · nothing to write home about · ho-hum