This is the 11461st most frequent Portuguese word.
observava
"Observed" or "was observing" (past tense of the verb "observar").
The word 'observava' is used in the imperfect tense; it depicts an ongoing or habitual action in the past where the subject was watching or monitoring the birds.
Ele observava os pássaros voando pelo céu.
He was observing the birds flying through the sky.
Here, 'observava' describes an action that occurred over a continuous period in the past, reflecting the subject's thorough study or attention to the cat's behavior.
Por todas aquelas semanas, ela observava o comportamento do gato.
During all those weeks, she was observing the cat's behavior.
In this case, 'observava' conveys the idea of watching something casually while another main action—'waiting'—was taking place in the past.