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Glite Dictionary
Calidris melanotos

Calidris melanotos

9.9
A medium-sized shorebird that puffs out its chest to attract a mate
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Calidris melanotos
  • During the breeding season, the male Calidris melanotos inflates its chest to attract a mate.

Examples

  • The Calidris melanotos migrates annually between North and South America, covering remarkable distances each year.

  • The Calidris melanotos is often found in wetlands.

  • Birdwatchers were excited to spot a Calidris melanotos near the wetland reserve this spring.

  • Have you ever seen a Calidris melanotos during migration?

  • During the breeding season, the male Calidris melanotos inflates its chest to attract a mate.

  • Birdwatchers were excited to spot a Calidris melanotos near the wetland reserve this spring.

  • The Calidris melanotos migrates annually between North and South America, covering remarkable distances each year.

Synonyms

pectoral sandpiper
vsCalidris melanotos
  • Specialized
8.2

A medium-sized wading bird with a striped chest that puffs out during courtship

is the formal scientific name for the same bird

Surface Forms

Calidris melanotos singular
Calidris melanotoses plural

Morphology

Calidris + melanotos

This is a Latin binomial taxonomic name, functioning as a label rather than a compositional English phrase; knowing 'Calidris' (a shorebird genus) and an unknown element 'melanotos' does not allow a B1 learner to infer the full species meaning or behaviours. Species names are language-specific scientific labels and often contain classical morphemes unfamiliar to learners, so the overall meaning is not derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Calidris melanotos may come from old Greek words: Calidris was used for small shore birds and melanotos likely means 'black-backed' or 'dark-backed'. So the name points to this little shore bird's darker markings and helps explain why it labels the pectoral sandpiper today.