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Glite Dictionary
straight-billed

straight-billed

7.1
A bird with a beak that is straight, not curved
  • adjective
  • Specialized
translation icon : pico recto
  • Many ornithologists study the feeding habits of straight-billed birds.

Examples

  • The straight-billed bird perched on the branch.

  • The straight-billed woodcreeper can be found in South American forests.

  • A straight-billed kingfisher uses its beak to hunt for fish in shallow waters.

  • I saw a straight-billed species at the park.

  • The straight-billed bird easily reached the nectar in the funnel-shaped flower.

  • Unlike many other species, the straight-billed bird uses its beak to forage directly from the ground.

  • I watched as the straight-billed bird landed softly on the branch, searching for insects.

Surface Forms

straight-billed positive

Morphology

straight-billed = straight + billed (transparent) = straight + bill + ed

Formed by combining 'straight' and 'billed' (billed = bill + -ed), the meaning 'having a straight beak' is directly derived from the components.

Etymology

The word straight-billed comes from the parts straight ('not curved') and bill ('beak'). So a straight-billed bird is one with a beak that is straight rather than curved or hooked.