wren warbler
- noun
- Indian
- The wren warbler is often recognized by its intricate nest, which resembles those made by tailorbirds.
Examples
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The wren warbler is known for its distinctive whistling call in the early mornings.
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Many birdwatchers travel to India to catch a glimpse of the elusive wren warbler.
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Unlike most birds, the wren warbler constructs elaborate nests that hang from tree branches.
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The wren warbler sings beautifully in the morning.
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Did you see a wren warbler in the garden?
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Many birdwatchers travel to Asia and Africa to observe the unique nesting habits of the wren warbler.
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Early in the morning, the wren warbler can be heard singing a cheerful melody that fills the air.
Synonyms
A small active bird that sings many clear notes
Small singing birds that eat insects and live in Asia and Africa
A small active bird that sings, often brown or grey, from Europe, Asia and Africa
Surface Forms
Morphology
This compound is compositionally built from two bird names — 'wren' and 'warbler' — so its meaning (a warbler species related to or resembling wrens) is directly inferable from the constituents. The construction is descriptive rather than idiomatic and follows common noun-noun compounding patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand the MWE.
Etymology
Wren warbler comes from the two bird names wren and warbler, so it gives the picture of a tiny singing bird. One clear image is a little bird making a neat hanging nest from a branch, so the name points to a 'small songbird' that builds 'hanging nests'.