Aythya affinis

9.9

A North American diving duck whose males have a shiny purplish head

noun

Specialized

: Aythya affinis

The male Aythya affinis is easily recognized by its glossy purplish head and bright yellow eyes.

Examples

Researchers studied the breeding habits of Aythya affinis in prairie wetlands.
During migration season, flocks of Aythya affinis can be seen on many North American lakes.
Look at that beautiful Aythya affinis swimming gracefully!
The Aythya affinis is often seen in lakes during the winter.
During migration season, flocks of Aythya affinis can be seen on many North American lakes.
The male Aythya affinis is easily recognized by its glossy purplish head and bright yellow eyes.
Researchers studied the breeding habits of Aythya affinis in prairie wetlands.

Synonyms

lesser scaup duck

vsAythya affinis

7.9

A medium diving bird whose male has a purple head and a blue bill

is the scientific name for the same species rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Aythya affinis singular

Aythya affinis plural

Morphology

Aythya + affinis

This is a Latin binomial (scientific name) that functions as an arbitrary label for a particular species rather than a compositional English phrase. Even if a learner knew 'Aythya' as a genus of diving ducks and the Latin root 'affinis' as 'related/akin', they would not be able to derive the specific sense 'the lesser scaup' or its identifying features, so the meaning is not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Aythya affinis comes from old words for birds: Aythya was a Greek name for a diving bird and affinis means 'related' or 'similar'. So the name describes a diving duck that looks like other scaup ducks.