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family Ptilonorhynchidae

family Ptilonorhynchidae

9.9
A group of birds from Australia and New Guinea whose males build decorated structures to attract mates
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Ptilonorhynchidae
  • The male birds of the family Ptilonorhynchidae build elaborate bowers to attract females.

Examples

  • The family Ptilonorhynchidae includes all species of bowerbirds found in Australia and New Guinea.

  • Researchers have long been fascinated by the elaborate courtship displays within the family Ptilonorhynchidae.

  • Members of the family Ptilonorhynchidae are renowned for constructing intricate structures to attract mates.

  • The family Ptilonorhynchidae includes some of the most fascinating birds.

  • Many species in the family Ptilonorhynchidae are known for their unique mating displays.

  • Birdwatchers often travel to Australia to observe the unique behaviors of the family Ptilonorhynchidae.

  • Members of the family Ptilonorhynchidae demonstrate remarkable creativity in their courtship rituals.

Synonyms

Ptilonorhynchidae
vsfamily Ptilonorhynchidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of birds in Australia and New Guinea whose males build decorated structures called bowers to attract females

is the same group but phrased with slightly different wording

Surface Forms

Morphology

family + Ptilonorhynchidae

This phrase is fully compositional: 'family' (a scientific grouping) combined with the taxonomic name 'Ptilonorhynchidae' literally denotes that taxonomic family. Even though the name is technical, a learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it as the bird family called Ptilonorhynchidae; the pattern is cross-linguistically regular for scientific names.

Etymology

Family Ptilonorhynchidae may come from Greek parts ptilo- (meaning 'feather') and -rhynchus (meaning 'beak'), so the name literally points to a kind of bird. That's why family Ptilonorhynchidae is used for the bowerbirds, the group of birds whose males build colourful bowers to attract mates.