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common yellowthroat

common yellowthroat

8.6
A small bird with a bright yellow throat found in wet places like marshes
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑːmən ˈjɛloʊˌθroʊt/
  • US
translation icon : gorrioncito de garganta amarilla
  • The bright yellow throat of the common yellowthroat stands out against its olive-green body.

Examples

  • Common Yellowthroat

    Blog text (30)
  • The common yellowthroat is often seen darting through the reeds along the marsh.

  • During our birdwatching trip, we spotted a common yellowthroat perched on a low bush.

Synonyms

Geothlypis trichas
vscommon yellowthroat
  • Specialized
9.6

A small North American songbird with a bright yellow front and a black face mask

is the everyday descriptive name emphasizing bright throat and habitat
yellowthroat
vscommon yellowthroat
  • US
9.6

A small bird found in North America with an olive back and yellow chest and throat

emphasizes a bright yellow throat rather than a merely yellow one

Surface Forms

Morphology

common + yellowthroat

The phrase is a straightforward adjectival modification: 'common' (frequently occurring) + 'yellowthroat' (a small warbler with a yellow throat) yields 'a frequently occurring yellowthroat species.' This composition follows standard, cross-linguistically common noun phrase patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can derive the meaning.

Etymology

The name common yellowthroat comes from its look: the small songbird has a bright yellow patch on its throat that stands out among the reeds. It is called 'common' because it is found in many wet or open places, so the name helps you remember both how it looks and where it lives.