wheatear
9.6
A small songbird with a white patch above its tail
- noun
- /ˈwiːtɪr/
:
tarabilla
- In the spring, flocks of wheatears can often be seen in grassy areas.
Examples
-
While hiking in the hills, we spotted a wheatear hopping along the trail.
-
The white-crowned black wheatear is a striking bird with a jet-black body setting off its white tail, belly, and skullcap.
Academic text (1991) -
The distinctive white rump of the wheatear made it easy to identify in the field.
Synonyms
9.9
Small birds that eat insects and live mainly in Europe, Asia, and Africa
refers to a single small songbird found in northern America and Eurasia
9.9
A small insect-eating bird that lives in open stony places in Europe and Asia
refers to a single small songbird found in northern America and Eurasia
Surface Forms
Etymology
Wheatear comes from old words white and arse, meaning 'white bottom', because the bird has a white rump. Later people changed the look of the name to wheat + ear, and that idea helps you remember the bird often appears in fields.
