aletear

to flap its wings

aletear(ah-leh-teh-ahr)

intransitive verb

1. (to flap)

a. to flap its wings (birds)

Los colibríes aletean con gran velocidad.

Hummingbirds flap their wings rapidly.

Las gaviotas aleteaban mientras corrían hacia las olas.

The seagulls flapped their wings as they ran toward the waves.

b. to flap around (fish)

El pez aleteaba mientras yo intentaba sacarle el anzuelo de la boca.

The fish flapped around as I tried to remove the hook from its mouth.

c. to flap one's arms (person)

Darío me dijo gallina y aleteaba para burlarse de mí.

Dario called me a chicken and flapped his arms to mock me.