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Bubo virginianus

Bubo virginianus

9.5
A large brown owl with ear tufts and a deep hoot
  • noun
  • /ˈbuːboʊ vɜrˈdʒɪniənəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Bubo virginianus
  • The deep hooting of Bubo virginianus can be heard throughout North American forests.

Examples

  • Ornithologists observed a Bubo virginianus perched on a high branch at dusk.

  • The Bubo virginianus is known for its distinctive tufts.

  • A Bubo virginianus spreads its wings impressively when threatened by predators.

  • Have you ever seen a Bubo virginianus in the wild?

  • Ornithologists observed a Bubo virginianus perched on a high branch at dusk.

  • The deep hooting of Bubo virginianus can be heard throughout North American forests.

  • A Bubo virginianus spreads its wings impressively when threatened by predators.

Synonyms

great horned owl
vsBubo virginianus
  • US
1 4.0

A large owl with ear tufts and brown and white feathers found in North America

is the formal Latin name used in scientific classification

Surface Forms

Bubo virginianus singular
Bubo virginiani singular

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.