Junco hyemalis
- noun
- /ˈdʒʌŋkoʊ haɪˈɛməlɪs/
- Specialized
:
junco de ojos oscuros
- The Junco hyemalis is often seen foraging on the ground during winter months.
Examples
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Birdwatchers can identify the Junco hyemalis by its distinctive grey and white coloring.
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A flock of Junco hyemalis gathered beneath the bird feeder after the snowstorm.
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Look at that Junco hyemalis perched on the branch!
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I spotted a Junco hyemalis in my backyard.
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A flock of Junco hyemalis gathered beneath the bird feeder after the snowstorm.
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Birdwatchers can identify the Junco hyemalis by its distinctive grey and white coloring.
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The Junco hyemalis is often seen foraging on the ground during winter months.
Synonyms
1
8.8
A small North American bird like a sparrow with gray or brown feathers often seen in winter
A small North American sparrow with grey feathers and dark eyes
A small North American bird with mostly grey feathers and a white belly
Surface Forms
Morphology
Junco + hyemalis
This is a scientific Latin binomial: the overall meaning (a specific species, the dark‑eyed junco) functions as an arbitrary taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase. Even if a learner knows 'Junco' as a small finch, 'hyemalis' is a Latin form not transparently interpretable by a B1 learner, so the species meaning cannot be derived from the constituents.
Etymology
Junco hyemalis comes from Latin words: junco meaning a 'rush' or grassy plant, and hyemalis meaning 'of winter'. Imagine a small grey bird hiding among brown rushes in the snow, so the name fits this 'winter' sparrow.