pin-tailed grouse

9.9

A bird with very long middle tail feathers

noun

: ganga de cola de pin

The pin-tailed grouse is easily recognized by the striking length of its tail feathers.

Examples

Ornithologists study the habits and habitats of the pin-tailed grouse in Africa's arid regions.
A flock of pin-tailed grouse was observed near the river at dawn.
Look at that pin-tailed grouse!
The pin-tailed grouse is known for its unique tail feathers.
A flock of pin-tailed grouse was observed near the river at dawn.
Ornithologists study the habits and habitats of the pin-tailed grouse in Africa's arid regions.
The pin-tailed grouse is easily recognized by the striking length of its tail feathers.

Synonyms

pin-tailed sandgrouse

vspin-tailed grouse

9.9

A bird with long middle tail feathers that lives in Europe and Africa

uses the alternate common name form typically found in field guides

Pterocles alchata

vspin-tailed grouse

Specialized

9.9

A bird that lives in dry places in Europe and Africa with long middle tail feathers

is the regular common English name used in everyday descriptions

Surface Forms

pin-tailed grouse singular

pin-tailed grouses plural

Morphology

pin-tailed + grouse

The phrase denotes a kind of grouse characterized by a 'pin-like' or elongated tail; a learner who knows 'pin', 'tail/tailed', and 'grouse' can infer it is a bird with a distinctive tail. This is a descriptive compound (modifier + noun) rather than an idiom, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Pin-tailed grouse gets its name from the bird's long, thin middle tail feathers that look like a pin at the tail. So the name points to this clear, visible feature and helps people recognize the species.