Bubo virginianus
- noun
- /ˈbuːboʊ vɜrˈdʒɪniənəs/
- Specialized
- The deep hooting of Bubo virginianus can be heard throughout North American forests.
Examples
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Ornithologists observed a Bubo virginianus perched on a high branch at dusk.
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The Bubo virginianus is known for its distinctive tufts.
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A Bubo virginianus spreads its wings impressively when threatened by predators.
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Have you ever seen a Bubo virginianus in the wild?
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Ornithologists observed a Bubo virginianus perched on a high branch at dusk.
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The deep hooting of Bubo virginianus can be heard throughout North American forests.
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A Bubo virginianus spreads its wings impressively when threatened by predators.
Synonyms
A large owl with ear tufts and brown and white feathers found in North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
Bubo + virginianus
This is a Linnaean binomial where the meaning is compositionally built from the genus name 'Bubo' (a group of horned owls) and the species epithet 'virginianus' (literally 'of Virginia' / from Virginia). If a learner knows these constituent meanings, the overall sense—an owl of the Bubo genus associated with Virginia / the great horned owl—is directly derivable; scientific names follow a regular, cross-linguistic compositional pattern.
Etymology
Bubo virginianus comes from two Latin words: bubo (a horned owl) and virginianus meaning 'from Virginia'. So, the name literally points to a horned owl from Virginia, which is the 'great horned owl' we know in North America.