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Pica pica hudsonia

Pica pica hudsonia

9.9
A magpie with black and white feathers and a long tail that lives in western North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : pájaro de la pica hudsonia
  • Researchers studied the nesting habits of the Pica pica hudsonia in the Rocky Mountains.

Examples

  • The Pica pica hudsonia can often be seen scavenging in western North America.

  • Unlike its Eurasian relatives, the Pica pica hudsonia displays unique social behaviors.

  • The Pica pica hudsonia is often seen in the Rocky Mountains.

  • Have you spotted a Pica pica hudsonia in your area?

  • Researchers studied the nesting habits of the Pica pica hudsonia in the Rocky Mountains.

  • The Pica pica hudsonia can often be seen scavenging in western North America.

  • Unlike its Eurasian relatives, the Pica pica hudsonia displays unique social behaviors.

Synonyms

magpie
vsPica pica hudsonia
3 3.5

A large black-and-white bird with a long tail that likes shiny things

is the specific Rocky Mountain subspecies with restricted range
American magpie
vsPica pica hudsonia
  • US
6.7

A black and white bird with a long tail that lives in the western mountains of North America

is a narrower subspecies native to parts of western North America

Surface Forms

Morphology

Pica + pica + hudsonia

This is a Latin scientific name (binomial plus subspecies) rather than a phrase composed of common English words. The components are not standard English vocabulary and do not transparently indicate 'a magpie subspecies' (at best 'hudsonia' might suggest a geographic link), so a B1 learner would not be able to derive the meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Pica pica hudsonia comes from the old name Pica pica for the magpie and hudsonia, which means 'from the Hudson area' in North America. So the name creates the simple image of a black-and-white, long-tailed magpie living in the Rocky Mountains and the western part of the continent, which helps you remember this local subspecies.