Saxicola rubetra

9.9

A small brown songbird with a pale belly that lives in grassy meadows

noun

Specialized

: Saxicola rubetra

The Saxicola rubetra is easily recognized by its distinctive buff and brown plumage.

Examples

While hiking through the meadow, we spotted a Saxicola rubetra perched on a fence post.
Many birdwatchers travel to observe the Saxicola rubetra during its migration season.
The Saxicola rubetra is often found in open fields.
Have you ever seen a Saxicola rubetra in the wild?
Many birdwatchers travel to observe the Saxicola rubetra during its migration season.
The Saxicola rubetra is easily recognized by its distinctive buff and brown plumage.
While hiking through the meadow, we spotted a Saxicola rubetra perched on a fence post.

Synonyms

whinchat

vsSaxicola rubetra

9.9

A small brown bird in Europe that lives in grassy meadows and sings a clear song

is the scientific name used for the same bird rather than the common name

Surface Forms

Saxicola rubetra singular

Saxicola rubetras plural

Morphology

Saxicola + rubetra

This is a Latin binomial: knowing 'Saxicola' (a genus of small birds) allows a learner to infer that the term refers to a bird, but the species epithet 'rubetra' provides no transparent common-language meaning (and is listed as not found). The precise sense 'whinchat; a small brown-and-buff European songbird' is not predictable from the constituents, so the expression gives partial but incomplete information to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Saxicola rubetra may come from old Latin words: Saxicola means 'rock-dweller' and rubetra may come from a word for 'bush' or 'bramble'. That picture, a small bird sitting on rocks, fence posts or low bushes, is why the name fits this little songbird you find in meadows today.