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Glite Dictionary
gilded flicker

gilded flicker

9.9
A large woodpecker from the southwestern United States without a red neck
  • noun
  • /ˈɡɪldɪd ˈflɪkər/
  • US
translation icon : pájaro carpintero dorado
  • I spotted a gilded flicker in the backyard.

Examples

  • We spotted a gilded flicker perched on a telephone pole during our Arizona hike.

  • Unlike its eastern relatives, the gilded flicker has no red patch on its neck.

  • The gilded flicker nests in saguaro cacti throughout the Sonoran Desert.

  • The gilded flickers are known for their distinctive call.

  • The gilded flicker is known for its beautiful golden feathers and distinct call.

  • Sightings of the gilded flicker in the desert canyons are a treat for birdwatchers.

  • In the early morning, the gilded flicker can often be heard tapping on tree trunks.

Synonyms

Colaptes chrysoides
vsgilded flicker
  • Specialized
9.9

A woodpecker from the southwestern United States that looks like the yellow-shafted flicker but has no red neck mark

is the common name for the same bird used instead of the scientific name

Surface Forms

gilded flicker singular
gilded flickers plural

Morphology

gilded + flicker

This is a straightforward adjective + noun compound: 'gilded' (gold-coated or golden) modifying 'flicker' (a type of woodpecker). A B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it denotes a kind of flicker with a golden/gilded appearance, so the basic meaning is compositionally transparent (specific taxonomic details are not needed to understand the compound).

Etymology

The name gilded flicker comes from the bird's look: the word flicker names a kind of woodpecker and gilded points to its bright, golden-yellow feathers that seem covered in gold. That's why the name means a large woodpecker with golden color rather than the 'red patch' some relatives have.