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Glite Dictionary
Sturnus vulgaris

Sturnus vulgaris

8.2
A common bird with dark shiny feathers that nests near people
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sturnus vulgaris
  • The scientific name of the common starling is Sturnus vulgaris.

Examples

  • Researchers observed Sturnus vulgaris nesting in close proximity to urban buildings.

  • Flocks of Sturnus vulgaris are often seen performing impressive aerial displays.

  • The Sturnus vulgaris is known for its striking appearance.

  • Many people enjoy watching Sturnus vulgaris in urban areas.

  • Flocks of Sturnus vulgaris gather in large numbers during the winter months.

  • Researchers observed Sturnus vulgaris nesting in close proximity to urban buildings.

  • Many people enjoy watching Sturnus vulgaris foraging for food in parks.

Synonyms

common starling
vsSturnus vulgaris
3.2

A small bird that lives in groups with dark shiny feathers and often nests near buildings

is the scientific label used for the same species in formal contexts

Surface Forms

Sturnus vulgaris singular
Sturnus vulgaris plural

Morphology

Sturnus + vulgaris

The name is directly compositional: 'Sturnus' identifies the starling genus and 'vulgaris' is a Latin epithet meaning 'common' or 'widespread', so together they denote the common starling. Because the binomial (genus + species epithet) naming convention is regular and cross-linguistic, a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Sturnus vulgaris comes from Latin words: Sturnus means 'starling' and vulgaris means 'common'. So the name literally says 'common starling', which is why it is used for the widespread bird we see near houses and towns today.