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Glite Dictionary
Phylloscopus

Phylloscopus

9.9
A small songbird that eats insects like a leaf warbler
  • noun
  • /ˌfɪləsˈkoʊpəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Phylloscopus
  • The Phylloscopus genus includes various species of leaf warblers found in forests and grasslands.

Examples

  • (d) Willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) have increased in abundance from 1994 to 2003 in Scotland, while declining throughout much of Wales and England.

    Academic text (2007)

  • The distinctive songs of Phylloscopus warblers can often be heard in the early morning hours in Eurasia.

  • Many birdwatchers enjoy observing the different Phylloscopus species during migrations in the spring.

Synonyms

genus Phylloscopus
vsPhylloscopus
  • Specialized
9.9

Small birds that eat insects and live in Eurasia and Africa

is the same but uses the common name leaf warblers

Compounds

genus Phylloscopus
  • Specialized
9.9

Small birds that eat insects and live in Eurasia and Africa

Phylloscopus sibilatrix
  • Specialized
9.9

A small European woodland bird with pale yellow feathers and a sweet song

Surface Forms

Phylloscopus singular
Phylloscopi plural

Morphology

Phylloscopus = phyllo + scopus

The name is a Latin/Greek compound used as a scientific genus ('leaf' + ' watcher' historically), but its elements are not productive English morphemes and the meaning is only clear with specialist etymological knowledge.

Etymology

The word Phylloscopus comes from Greek parts phyllo- meaning 'leaf' and scopus meaning 'watcher', the same root you see in scope. So a Phylloscopus is a 'leaf-watcher' — a small bird that moves through leaves looking for insects, which explains the name.