swamp sparrow
- noun
- /swɑmp ˈspɛroʊ/
- US
:
gorrión de pantano
- The swamp sparrow sings beautifully in the morning.
Examples
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The distinctive trill of the swamp sparrow echoed through the marshlands.
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During migration, swamp sparrows can be found in wetlands across the eastern United States.
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We spotted a swamp sparrow singing in the reeds by the lake.
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Have you ever seen a swamp sparrow in the wild?
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During our birdwatching trip, we spotted a swamp sparrow hopping among the reeds, its rust-colored wings shining in the sunlight.
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The swamp sparrow is known for its melodic song, which can often be heard echoing through the marshy wetlands.
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I was thrilled when I captured a photo of a swamp sparrow perched on a branch near the muddy bank of the river.
Synonyms
A small North American sparrow that lives in marshes and sings softly
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'swamp sparrow' is directly compositional: it denotes a sparrow associated with swamp/marsh habitat, which a learner can infer from knowing 'swamp' and 'sparrow'. This noun‑noun naming pattern is regular and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand the meaning.
Etymology
Swamp sparrow comes from the simple image of a small sparrow that lives in a swamp or marsh. Today swamp sparrow means 'a small North American songbird found in marshes', and the name fits because people notice its rusty wings and clear, sweet song in wet places.
