Wilsonia pusilla
- noun
- /ˌwɪl.sən.i.ə pʌˈsɪl.ə/
- Specialized
:
Wilsonia pusilla
- The Wilsonia pusilla is known for its bright yellow feathers.
Examples
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We spotted a Wilsonia pusilla flitting among the branches on our morning walk.
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I spotted a Wilsonia pusilla in the garden yesterday.
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During migration season, many birdwatchers hope to catch a glimpse of a Wilsonia pusilla.
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The vibrant yellow color of the Wilsonia pusilla makes it easy to recognize in the wild.
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During migration season, many birdwatchers hope to catch a glimpse of a Wilsonia pusilla.
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The vibrant yellow color of the Wilsonia pusilla makes it easy to recognize in the wild.
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We spotted a Wilsonia pusilla flitting among the branches on our morning walk.
Synonyms
1
8.4
A small bright yellow North American bird with a black cap that lives in shrubs
A small yellow songbird with a black crown found in North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
Wilsonia + pusilla
This is a Latin binomial (a taxonomic name) composed of non-plain-English elements that are not dictionary words for an average B1 learner, so the overall meaning (‘Wilson's warbler’ or ‘a small wood warbler’) cannot be derived from the parts. Scientific names function as arbitrary labels (often honoring a person or using Latin descriptors) rather than compositional English phrases, so the expression is opaque to learners.
Etymology
Wilsonia pusilla comes from the bird being named for a man, Alexander Wilson, who studied birds long ago. The last part pusilla means 'very small', so the name is like saying 'Wilson's small bird' and helps explain why it refers to a tiny warbler.