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Glite Dictionary
black turnstone

black turnstone

9.9
A small bird that walks in shallow water with black and white feathers on the Pacific coast
  • noun
  • /blæk ˈtɜrnˌstoʊn/
  • US
translation icon : playero negro
  • The black turnstone is commonly seen along the Pacific coast during migration season.

Examples

  • The black turnstone is easily identifiable due to its striking black and white plumage.

  • We spotted a flock of black turnstones feeding on the rocky shoreline.

  • Biologists studied the nesting habits of the black turnstone in Alaska.

  • I spotted a black turnstone on the beach.

  • The black turnstones migrate south for the winter.

  • During our trip to the coast, we observed a black turnstone foraging among the rocks.

  • Watching a black turnstone as it scuttled along the beach was a highlight of our birdwatching adventure.

Synonyms

Arenaria melanocephala
vsblack turnstone
  • Specialized
9.9

A shorebird with a black head and mottled brown feathers that lives on the Pacific coast of North America

is the common English name used instead of the Latin term

Surface Forms

black turnstone singular
black turnstones plural

Morphology

black + turnstone

This is a straightforward adjective + noun phrase: 'black' describes the color and 'turnstone' names the shorebird, so a learner who knows both words can infer it is a turnstone that is black. Color + species composition is a common, compositional pattern across languages, making the meaning directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Black turnstone gets its name from the bird's dark black feathers and from turnstone, a name for shorebirds that 'turn' stones and seaweed on the rocks to find food. So the name helps you picture a small black bird flipping things on the shore to eat, which is why it is called that today.