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Glite Dictionary
ruby-crowned wren

ruby-crowned wren

8.6
A small North American songbird with a bright red patch on the top of the male's head
  • noun
  • /ˈruːbiˌkraʊnd rɛn/
  • US
translation icon : wren coronirrojo
  • The male ruby-crowned wren displays a brilliant red patch when excited.

Examples

  • We spotted a ruby-crowned wren singing cheerfully in the pine grove.

  • I spotted a ruby-crowned wren in the garden yesterday.

  • Birdwatchers are eager to catch a glimpse of the elusive ruby-crowned wren.

  • The ruby-crowned wren sang beautifully in the morning.

  • Birdwatchers are eager to catch a glimpse of the elusive ruby-crowned wren.

  • The male ruby-crowned wren displays a brilliant red patch on its crown when excited.

  • We spotted a ruby-crowned wren singing cheerfully in the pine grove.

Synonyms

wren
vsruby-crowned wren
5 2.2

A small active brown bird that sings and lives near gardens

is a specific North American songbird whose male shows a distinctive red crown patch

Surface Forms

ruby-crowned wren singular
ruby-crowned wrens plural

Morphology

ruby-crowned + wren

The phrase is a straightforward compound describing a physical trait: 'ruby-crowned' = having a ruby (red) patch on the crown (top of the head) and 'wren' = a small songbird. This adjective+noun composition is directly interpretable from the constituents and follows common cross-linguistic descriptive patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the parts can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Ruby-crowned wren is named for the bright red spot on the male bird's head. Think of a tiny wren with a little ruby on its crown, and that image explains the name and helps you remember this 'small songbird'.