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Glite Dictionary
corncrake

corncrake

9.9
A small brown bird that lives in fields and makes a loud rough call
  • noun
  • /ˈkɔrnˌkreɪk/
translation icon : rascón
  • The corncrake is known for its distinctive rasping call, especially heard in meadows during the summer.

Examples

  • Lightly managed species are typified by the corncrake (Crex crex), a species of rail historically distributed across northern and central Eurasia and probably initially associated with riparian meadows.

    Academic text (2011)

  • One of the birds studied, which Jenner contended was a migratory bird, was the landrail, also called a corncrake.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Schffer N, Green RE. 2001. The global status of the corncrake. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Conservation Review 13: 18-24.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Farmers often hear the corncrake in their fields, where this bird prefers to nest among the tall grasses.

  • Due to habitat loss, the population of the corncrake has decreased significantly across many regions in Europe.

Synonyms

crake
vscorncrake
1 9.9

A small water bird with a short bill that lives in marshes and reed beds

is a family member that instead frequents grain fields and meadows
Crex crex
vscorncrake
  • Specialized
9.9

A shy brown bird that lives in grain fields and makes a loud rough call

is the same bird but named in common everyday language
land rail
vscorncrake
  • UK
9.0

A small brown bird that lives in fields and meadows, often hidden in tall grass

emphasizes the bird's rasping call rather than just the name

Surface Forms

corncrake singular
corncrakes plural

Morphology

corncrake = corn + crake (semi-transparent) = corn + crake

The compound 'corn' + 'crake' transparently signals 'a crake associated with corn/grain fields', but 'crake' is a rare word and the species name is lexicalized, so full meaning may not be inferable to an average learner.

Etymology

Corncrake joins corn meaning 'grain' or 'grain field' and crake, a word for a harsh, rasping cry like 'croak'. So the name describes a bird of the grain fields known for its rough, rasping call.