Nycticorax nycticorax
- noun
- Specialized
:
nycticorax nycticorax
- The Nycticorax nycticorax is recognizable by its black crown and back contrasting with its grey wings.
Examples
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Unlike other herons, the Nycticorax nycticorax is most active during the night.
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The Nycticorax nycticorax is often seen near wetlands.
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Researchers observed a group of Nycticorax nycticorax feeding along the wetland at dusk.
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Have you ever spotted a Nycticorax nycticorax in the wild?
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Researchers observed a group of Nycticorax nycticorax feeding along the wetland at dusk.
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The Nycticorax nycticorax is recognizable by its black crown and back contrasting with its grey wings.
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Unlike other herons, the Nycticorax nycticorax is most active during the night.
Synonyms
A medium-sized bird that lives by water with a black cap on its head
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents are the Latin genus name meaning 'a genus of herons that hunt at night', so the phrase denotes a species within that genus and the overall sense (a kind of night heron) is related to the constituent meanings. However, recognising that the reduplicated form is a binomial scientific name and that it denotes a species requires knowledge of taxonomic naming conventions rather than ordinary English composition, so the connection is not fully predictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Nycticorax nycticorax may come from old Greek words nycti meaning 'night' and corax meaning 'raven'. Because this heron is active at night and has a dark crown and a croaky call, the name gives the picture of a 'night raven', which helps explain why it refers to a night heron.
