boat-billed heron
- noun
- /boʊt bɪld ˈhɛrən/
- Specialized
:
garza pico de barco
- During our trip to Central America, we spotted a boat-billed heron perched silently on a branch.
Examples
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With its distinctively wide bill, the boat-billed heron stands out among other wading birds.
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The boat-billed heron is often seen hunting for fish at dusk along mangrove rivers.
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Look at that boat-billed heron!
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The boat-billed heron is known for its unique bill shape.
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During our trip to the wetlands, we spotted a stunning boat-billed heron wading through the shallow waters.
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The boat-billed heron is easily identifiable by its unique wide bill and striking plumage.
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As we observed the wildlife, a boat-billed heron gracefully took flight, showcasing its impressive wingspan.
Synonyms
A tropical American heron with a wide boat-shaped bill
A large bird that walks in shallow water with a broad, boat-shaped bill and is active at night
A tropical heron with a wide bill that often wades in shallow water at dusk
Surface Forms
Morphology
boat-billed + heron
The compound is a straightforward descriptive noun phrase: 'boat-billed' transparently means 'having a bill shaped like a boat' and combines with 'heron' to denote a heron with that bill shape. This is a productive, non-idiomatic morphological pattern (X‑billed = having a bill like X), so a B1 learner who knows 'boat', 'bill' and 'heron' can infer the meaning.
Etymology
The name boat-billed heron comes from its very wide, curved bill that looks like a small boat, so people used that picture to name the bird. That's why the term refers to a type of heron with a boat-shaped bill.
