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Glite Dictionary
green woodpecker

green woodpecker

4.6
A greenish bird that eats ants and makes a loud laughing call
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : pájaro carpintero verde
  • We heard the distinctive laughing call of a green woodpecker during our walk in the woods.

Examples

  • Look! A green woodpecker is pecking at that tree!

  • The green woodpecker can often be seen feeding on ants in open grassy areas.

  • Unlike other species, the green woodpecker rarely drums on trees.

  • I spotted a green woodpecker in the park yesterday.

  • While walking in the forest, I spotted a beautiful green woodpecker pecking at a tree trunk.

  • The green woodpecker is known for its distinctive call that resonates through the woodlands.

  • Many birdwatchers travel to see the green woodpecker in its natural habitat during the spring.

Synonyms

woodpecker
vsgreen woodpecker
21 1.4

A bird with a strong beak that makes holes in trees to find insects

is the specific European species noted for a distinctive plumage and a call
Picus viridis
vsgreen woodpecker
  • Specialized
9.5

A green woodpecker that lives in Europe and western Asia

is the common English name rather than the scientific label

Surface Forms

green woodpecker singular
green woodpeckers plural

Morphology

green + woodpecker

The phrase is directly compositional: 'green' modifies 'woodpecker' to indicate a woodpecker with green(ish) plumage, so the overall meaning is transparently derivable from the constituents. This adjective+noun naming pattern is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English modification rules, so a B1 learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

Green woodpecker is a simple name: people called it green because of its colour and woodpecker because it is a bird that pecks wood, so the name points to the actual green-feathered bird.