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Glite Dictionary
Delichon urbica

Delichon urbica

9.9
A small swallow that nests under the eaves of buildings
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Delichon urbica
  • Every spring, Delichon urbica returns to the same nesting sites under the eaves.

Examples

  • The white rump and forked tail make Delichon urbica easy to identify in flight.

  • Have you seen a Delichon urbica nesting near your home?

  • Scientists monitor Delichon urbica populations to study changes in the environment.

  • The Delichon urbica is known for its distinctive forked tail.

  • Every spring, Delichon urbica returns to the same nesting sites under the eaves.

  • The white rump and forked tail make Delichon urbica easy to identify in flight.

  • Have you seen a Delichon urbica nesting near your home?

Synonyms

house martin
vsDelichon urbica
  • UK
6.9

A small bird like a swallow that builds mud nests under the edge of a roof

is the formal scientific name used in biology for that bird

Surface Forms

Delichon urbica singular

Morphology

Delichon + urbica

This is a Latin binomial (genus + species) where the parts function as taxonomic labels rather than ordinary compositional English words; 'Delichon' and the unattested 'urbica' do not form a predictable everyday meaning for a B1 learner. Even though 'urbica' resembles the root of 'urban', the scientific name requires specific biological knowledge and is not transparently derivable from its constituents, so learners would not infer 'house martin' from the parts alone.

Etymology

Delichon urbica: the first part Delichon may come from an old word for a small swallow, and the Latin part urbica means 'of the town'. The name gives a clear image — a small swallow that lives on houses and nests under the roof edges, which is why we call it the 'house martin'.