In golf, a birdie is when you complete a hole in one stroke fewer than expected. Each hole on a golf course has a “par,” which is the number of strokes a skilled golfer should need to get the ball from the tee into the cup. If a hole is par 4 and you sink the ball in 3 strokes, you've made a birdie.

It's better than par (the expected score) but not as rare as an eagle (two strokes under par) or the extremely difficult albatross (three strokes under par). All these bird names create a playful system where rarer achievements get named after more impressive birds.

“Birdie” can also be a cute or silly way to refer to a small bird. You might hear a little kid say, “Look at the birdie!”