Alauda arvensis

9.9

A small brown-spotted bird that sings while hovering high above fields

noun

Specialized

: alondra común

We listened to the Alauda arvensis singing as it hovered over the fields.

Examples

The Alauda arvensis is admired for its melodic flight song in European literature.
The Alauda arvensis is often seen in open fields.
Farmers welcome the presence of Alauda arvensis as a sign of healthy grasslands.
Did you hear the song of the Alauda arvensis yesterday?
As the sun set, we heard the beautiful song of the Alauda arvensis soaring high above the meadows.
In spring, the Alauda arvensis fills the air with its enchanting melodies while flying in circles.
The Alauda arvensis is often spotted in grassy areas, where its sweet song adds to the natural beauty.

Synonyms

lark

vsAlauda arvensis

9 2.8

A small brown bird that sings beautifully

refers to this exact European species rather than the broader group

skylark

vsAlauda arvensis

5 6.7

A small brown bird that sings while flying high above fields

is the scientific name for the same bird

How Musical

nightingale

16 4.4

Alauda arvensis

Specialized

9.9

blackbird

5 2.7

robin

9 1.0

sparrow

38 1.0

Surface Forms

Alauda arvensis singular

Alauda arvensis plural

Morphology

Alauda + arvensis

The binomial combines the genus name 'Alauda' (a lark) with a Latin species epithet; if a learner knew both parts and the Latin sense of 'arvensis' ('of the fields'), they could infer 'lark of the fields' (skylark). However, 'arvensis' is not an English word and requires taxonomic/Latin knowledge, so a typical B1 learner who only knows the apparent constituents would likely not derive the meaning without extra domain knowledge.

Etymology

Alauda arvensis comes from Latin: Alauda means the lark and arvensis means 'of the fields'. The small brown bird sings while hovering high above the fields, so the name points to the 'skylark', a field bird famous for its song.