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Glite Dictionary
Chen caerulescens

Chen caerulescens

9.9
A North American wild goose that is dark in summer and white in winter
  • noun
  • /tʃɛn kɛəˈruːləsɛnz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Chen caerulescens
  • The plumage of Chen caerulescens changes from darker shades in summer to white in winter.

Examples

  • Large flocks of Chen caerulescens migrate each spring and autumn across the North American continent.

  • Conservationists monitor Chen caerulescens populations to ensure the species remains abundant.

  • The Chen caerulescens migrates south for the winter.

  • Look at that beautiful Chen caerulescens flying overhead!

  • Conservationists monitor Chen caerulescens populations to ensure the species remains abundant.

  • Large flocks of Chen caerulescens migrate each spring and autumn across the North American continent.

  • The plumage of Chen caerulescens changes from darker shades in summer to white in winter.

Synonyms

snow goose
vsChen caerulescens
  • US
1 2.8

A white goose with black wing tips found in North America

focuses on seasonal plumage change rather than only the white adult form
blue goose
vsChen caerulescens
  • US
7.2

A wild goose from North America with dark feathers in summer and white in winter

is the whole species rather than only a color variant

Surface Forms

Chen caerulescens singular
Chen caerulescenses plural

Morphology

Chen + caerulescens

This is a Latin binomial (scientific) name rather than a compositional English phrase; the genus name 'Chen' and the Latin adjective 'caerulescens' do not follow ordinary English composition patterns and one constituent is not an English lexeme. Scientific names act as arbitrary labels for species, so even a learner who 'knows' the parts would not reliably infer the specific meaning 'snow goose with seasonal plumage', making the expression non-compositional for B1 learners.

Etymology

Chen caerulescens comes from Latin words: Chen meaning 'goose' and caerulescens meaning 'bluish'. That name fits the bird because it has darker, bluish feathers in summer and white feathers in winter, so it helps you remember this 'snow goose' that changes colour.