common spoonbill

5.1

A large white wading bird with a spoon-shaped bill found in parts of Europe, Asia, and northeastern Africa

noun

: espátula común

We spotted a common spoonbill feeding in the shallow waters of the wetland reserve.

Examples

The common spoonbill is easily identified by its white plumage and unusual bill shape.
Conservationists are monitoring the breeding sites of the common spoonbill in the region.
Look at that common spoonbill wading in the water!
The common spoonbill is often seen in wetlands.
The common spoonbill is easily identified by its white plumage and unusual bill shape.
We spotted a common spoonbill feeding in the shallow waters of the wetland reserve.
The common spoonbill is often seen in wetlands.

Synonyms

Platalea leucorodia

vscommon spoonbill

Specialized

9.9

A large white bird with a long flat bill shaped like a spoon that feeds in shallow water

is the everyday name used instead of the scientific term

Surface Forms

common spoonbill singular

common spoonbills plural

Morphology

common + spoonbill

This is a straightforward adjective + noun combination where 'common' simply qualifies which spoonbill is meant (the widespread or usual species). A B1 learner who knows 'common' (widespread/usual) and 'spoonbill' (the wading bird) can immediately derive the meaning, so the construction is fully compositional and cross-linguistically ordinary.

Etymology

Common spoonbill gets its name from the bird's long, flat spoon-like bill that looks like a kitchen spoon and is used to sweep the water for food. The word 'common' means it is the usual or widespread species in the area, so the name points to both its shape and that it is the common type people see.