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Glite Dictionary
crocodile bird

crocodile bird

9.9
A small African bird that eats bugs from crocodiles' mouths
  • noun
translation icon : pájaro cocodrilo
  • Some believe the crocodile bird helps crocodiles by cleaning their teeth and mouths.

Examples

  • The crocodile bird feeds on parasites found on the backs of crocodiles.

  • The crocodile bird often perches on the backs of crocodiles.

  • The crocodile bird is often seen picking insects off basking reptiles on the riverbank.

  • Tourists were fascinated to see a crocodile bird fearlessly approaching a resting crocodile.

  • Have you ever seen a crocodile bird in the wild?

  • Many people enjoy watching the crocodile bird as it cleans the teeth of its large reptile friend.

  • In the hot sun, the crocodile bird can often be seen sitting on a crocodile while looking for insects.

Synonyms

Pluvianus aegyptius
vscrocodile bird
  • Specialized
9.9

A bird from Africa that eats parasites on crocodiles

is the informal common name used in everyday speech for that same bird

Surface Forms

crocodile bird singular
crocodile birds plural

Morphology

crocodile + bird

The meaning 'an African bird that feeds on parasites found on crocodiles' is directly and predictably derived from combining 'crocodile' (the animal) and 'bird' (a bird associated with it): a bird connected with crocodiles. This straightforward noun–noun compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the general meaning even without knowing the specific species.

Etymology

Crocodile bird: The name crocodile bird comes from a small bird, the Egyptian plover, that sits on a crocodile and picks insects and parasites from its mouth and teeth. Because this strong image of a bird helping a crocodile is easy to remember, the name means 'a bird that cleans crocodiles'.