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Glite Dictionary
Charadrius melodus

Charadrius melodus

9.9
A small beach bird found in eastern North America with pale feathers and a high clear call
  • noun
  • /kəˈrædriəs ˈmɛlədəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Charadrius melodus
  • The Charadrius melodus faces threats from habitat loss along Atlantic coastlines.

Examples

  • Conservation programs have been launched to protect nesting sites of the Charadrius melodus.

  • Researchers spent the summer banding Charadrius melodus chicks to monitor their movements.

  • Look at that Charadrius melodus!

  • The Charadrius melodus is an endangered species.

  • Conservation programs have been launched to protect nesting sites of the Charadrius melodus.

  • The Charadrius melodus faces threats from habitat loss along Atlantic coastlines.

  • Researchers spent the summer banding Charadrius melodus chicks to monitor their movements.

Synonyms

piping plover
vsCharadrius melodus
  • US
1 9.9

A small pale bird that lives on sandy beaches and makes a soft whistled call

is the Latin scientific name used for the same species

Surface Forms

Charadrius melodus singular
Charadrius meloduses plural

Morphology

Charadrius + melodus

As a Linnaean binomial, the form 'Charadrius melodus' transparently signals 'a particular species of Charadrius (plover)', so a learner who knows the genus name can infer it refers to a kind of plover. However, the specific sense (the common name 'piping plover' and its distinctive plumage and call) is not derivable from the species epithet 'melodus' (which is not a common English word), so the meaning is only partially recoverable.

Etymology

The noun Charadrius melodus comes from old scientific words: Charadrius was used for small shore birds and melodus means 'song'. So the name gives the image of a small shore bird with a clear, high call.