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Glite Dictionary
cuculiform bird

cuculiform bird

9.9
A bird like a cuckoo or roadrunner with two toes pointing forward and two back for perching securely
  • noun
  • /ˈkuːkəˌlɪfɔrm bɜrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : ave cuculiforme
  • Many species of cuculiform birds, such as cuckoos, are known for their brood parasitism.

Examples

  • A roadrunner is a well-known example of a North American cuculiform bird.

  • The cuculiform bird is distinguished by its unique foot structure, which helps it perch securely on tree branches.

  • Look at that cuculiform bird flying across the field!

  • The cuculiform bird sang beautifully in the morning light.

  • One common cuculiform bird is the cuckoo, which is often heard calling in the spring.

  • The distinctive features of a cuculiform bird include its zygodactyl feet that allow it to grasp branches tightly.

  • Birdwatchers are excited to spot a rare cuculiform bird that has migrated to the area this season.

Surface Forms

cuculiform bird singular
cuculiform birds plural

Morphology

cuculiform + bird

The noun 'bird' is transparent and the adjective 'cuculiform' morphologically signals a type or form (‑form) related to cuckoos, so the phrase denotes a kind of bird. However, 'cuculiform' is a technical, rare taxonomic term with no everyday meaning given here, so the specific referent and nuance are not fully predictable for a B1 learner and require domain knowledge.

Etymology

Cuculiform bird comes from the Latin word cuculus, the name for the 'cuckoo', plus the part -form which means 'shape' or 'type'. So cuculiform bird simply means a bird 'like a cuckoo', which is why the name covers cuckoos, roadrunners, and other similar species.