Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Arenaria melanocephala

Arenaria melanocephala

9.9
A shorebird with a black head and mottled brown feathers that lives on the Pacific coast of North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : arenaria melanocephala
  • Birdwatchers flock to the Pacific coast to observe the distinctive Arenaria melanocephala with its black head.

Examples

  • The Arenaria melanocephala is frequently spotted along rocky Pacific coastlines searching for food.

  • The Arenaria melanocephala is commonly seen along the Pacific coast.

  • During migration season, birdwatchers gather to observe the Arenaria melanocephala in large flocks.

  • Unlike its Atlantic relative, the Arenaria melanocephala prefers the western shores of North America.

  • Have you ever spotted an Arenaria melanocephala in its natural habitat?

  • The Arenaria melanocephala can often be seen foraging on rocky beaches along the Pacific shoreline.

  • During the summer, the Arenaria melanocephala is a common sight for nature lovers in coastal habitats.

Synonyms

black turnstone
vsArenaria melanocephala
  • US
9.9

A small bird that walks in shallow water with black and white feathers on the Pacific coast

focuses on a black head and mottled body instead of uniform black and white
Arenaria
vsArenaria melanocephala
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shore bird that flips stones to find food

refers to a single coastal species on the Pacific coast rather than the whole group

Surface Forms

Arenaria melanocephala singular
Arenaria melanocephalas plural

Morphology

Arenaria + melanocephala

The genus name 'Arenaria' denotes a shorebird (turnstone), so that part is transparent; however 'melanocephala' is a Latin/Greek compound not listed in the dictionary and requires knowledge of roots (melano- = black, -cephala = headed) to infer 'black-headed'. Because inference depends on knowledge of classical roots that a typical B1 learner is unlikely to have, the overall phrase is only partially predictable from its parts.

Etymology

Arenaria melanocephala is a name that paints a simple picture: Arenaria comes from a word for 'sand' or shore and melanocephala means 'black-headed', so the name describes a small shore bird with a dark head and spotted feathers. That's why the name fits this turnstone often seen along the Pacific coast.