Milvus migrans
- noun
- Specialized
:
Milvus migrans
- The Milvus migrans is easily identified by its forked tail and agile flight.
Examples
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Ecologists observed that Milvus migrans often scavenge in urban areas.
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During migration season, large flocks of Milvus migrans can be seen soaring over the countryside.
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Look! A Milvus migrans!
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The Milvus migrans is often seen soaring in the sky.
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During migration season, large flocks of Milvus migrans can be seen soaring over the countryside, searching for food.
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Ecologists observed that Milvus migrans often scavenge in urban areas, taking advantage of available carrion.
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The Milvus migrans is easily identified by its dark plumage and forked tail while it gracefully glides through the air.
Synonyms
7
7.4
A medium bird with long pointed wings that eats small animals
A medium-sized bird of prey with dark feathers that often eats dead animals
Surface Forms
Morphology
Milvus + migrans
This is a Latin binomial: Milvus is a genus of kites and migrans (Latin) means migrating or migratory. A learner who knows both constituents could infer it denotes a species of kite (a migratory kite), but the scientific name is specialized and does not directly yield the common name 'black kite', and 'migrans' is not an English dictionary item, so the full meaning is only partially predictable.
Etymology
Milvus migrans comes from Latin words Milvus and migrans, where Milvus refers to a kite and migrans means 'moving' or 'migrating'. People gave this name because the bird often flies long distances and scavenges for food, so the name now fits the dark, scavenging bird called the black kite.