Pica pica
- noun
- Specialized
:
pájaro de la pica
- Unlike other corvids, Pica pica has a striking black-and-white appearance and a long tail.
Examples
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The Pica pica is often seen collecting shiny objects to decorate its nest.
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Have you seen a Pica pica in your garden?
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Ornithologists study the behavior and intelligence of Pica pica across different regions.
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The Pica pica is known for its striking black-and-white plumage.
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The Pica pica is a common sight in parks, where it often chases after other birds.
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Many people enjoy watching the Pica pica as it hops around looking for food on the ground.
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In folklore, the Pica pica is often associated with mischief due to its playful nature.
Synonyms
3
3.5
A large black-and-white bird with a long tail that likes shiny things
A common black and white bird with a long tail found across Europe and Asia
Surface Forms
Morphology
Pica + pica
Pica pica is a Latin binomial (genus + species) used in scientific taxonomy rather than a compositional English phrase; the constituent tokens 'Pica'/'pica' are not English words with ordinary meanings for a B1 learner. Because the meaning (Eurasian magpie) cannot be derived from knowledge of the written constituents and requires specific biological nomenclature knowledge, it is not transparent to learners.
Etymology
Pica pica comes from the old Latin word 'pica', which meant 'magpie'. The scientist who gave animals Latin names often repeated a word to mark the typical species, so Pica pica simply names the common Eurasian 'magpie' with black-and-white feathers and a long tail.