tundra swan

1 7.4

A large white bird with a long neck that breeds in Arctic tundra

noun
/ˈtʌndrə swɑn/

: cisne de tundra

During the breeding season, the tundra swan can be seen nesting in the remote Arctic regions of Alaska.

Examples

During our trip to Alaska, we observed a flock of tundra swans feeding near a shallow lake.
The tundra swan migrates thousands of miles each year between its Arctic breeding grounds and wintering sites.
Unlike the larger trumpeter swan, the tundra swan has a more delicate call and a yellow spot at the base of its bill.
The tundra swan is known for its striking white feathers.
Many tundra swans migrate south for the winter.
In spring, tundra swans migrate north to their breeding grounds in the tundra of Canada.
The tundra swan stands out with its elegant white feathers while foraging in the shallow waters of the Arctic wetlands.

Synonyms

Cygnus columbianus

vstundra swan

Specialized

9.9

A medium-sized white swan that nests on Arctic tundra and flies far south for winter

is the common name used for the same species

Surface Forms

tundra swan singular

tundra swans plural

Morphology

tundra + swan

The meaning of 'tundra swan' is directly inferable from 'tundra' (a cold, low-vegetation region) + 'swan' (a large white aquatic bird): it denotes a swan associated with the tundra. This straightforward noun–noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably deduce the referent.

Etymology

Tundra swan simply names the bird: a swan that lives and breeds on the cold, flat tundra, the treeless land in the far north. That's why the name tells you both the kind of bird and where it lives.