Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Melospiza georgiana

Melospiza georgiana

9.9
A small North American sparrow that lives in marshes and sings softly
  • noun
  • /mɛloʊˈspizə dʒɔrˈdʒiːnə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : gorrión pantanoso
  • The Melospiza georgiana thrives in marshy areas, where it builds its nest among dense reeds.

Examples

  • The Melospiza georgiana is known for its subtle plumage and sweet song in wetland habitats.

  • Researchers observed several Melospiza georgiana singing in the marsh early in the morning.

  • During migration, the Melospiza georgiana can be found along the edges of ponds and lakes.

  • The Melospiza georgiana is often found in wetlands.

  • Have you ever seen a Melospiza georgiana in the wild?

  • Ornithologists often study the Melospiza georgiana to understand its behavior in wetland ecosystems.

  • Spotting a Melospiza georgiana in its natural habitat is a rewarding experience for birdwatchers.

Synonyms

swamp sparrow
vsMelospiza georgiana
  • US
6.5

A small bird with reddish brown wings that lives and sings in marshes

is the scientific species name for that same marsh songbird

Surface Forms

Melospiza georgiana singular

Morphology

Melospiza + georgiana

As a Latin binomial, the name partly signals category: 'Melospiza' (a group of songbirds) lets a learner infer this is some kind of bird, but the specific epithet 'georgiana' is not a standard English word and does not transparently convey the species identity or habitat ('swamp sparrow' in marshes). Therefore a B1 learner who 'knows' the constituents might guess it's a bird but would not be able to derive the precise meaning or ecological information without prior exposure.

Etymology

Melospiza georgiana may come from old words: melo meaning 'song' and spiza meaning 'finch', while georgiana likely means 'from Georgia'. So the name describes a small singing marsh bird, which fits the swamp sparrow.