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Glite Dictionary
Arkansas kingbird

Arkansas kingbird

8.5
A medium-sized North American bird with a pale grey head, yellowish breast and black tail
  • noun
  • /ˌɑrkənˈsɔː kɪŋbɜrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : tiranos de Arkansas
  • A pale grey back and yellowish breast help identify the Arkansas kingbird in the field.

Examples

  • The Arkansas kingbird is often spotted perched on power lines in the summer.

  • Birdwatchers recorded several Arkansas kingbirds migrating through the valley last spring.

  • The Arkansas kingbird is often seen perched on fences.

  • Many birdwatchers admire the Arkansas kingbird for its striking appearance.

  • A pale grey back and yellowish breast help identify the Arkansas kingbird in the field.

  • Birdwatchers recorded several Arkansas kingbirds migrating through the valley last spring.

  • The Arkansas kingbird is often spotted perched on power lines in the summer.

Synonyms

western kingbird
vsArkansas kingbird
  • Specialized
8.9

A large western North American bird with a pale grey back, yellow belly, and black tail that catches insects

is found mainly in the western United States rather than across western North America

Surface Forms

Arkansas kingbird singular
Arkansas kingbirds plural

Morphology

Arkansas + kingbird

The meaning is directly composed from the place name 'Arkansas' and the species name 'kingbird' — a kingbird associated with or found in Arkansas. This place-name + species compounding is a common, fully compositional pattern (e.g., 'California condor') and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Arkansas kingbird comes from the place name Arkansas and the bird type kingbird. One popular story says people called it a kingbird because it acts like a little ruler, chasing other birds away from its space, so the name means a king-like bird often seen in Arkansas.