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Glite Dictionary
Alectoris ruffa

Alectoris ruffa

9.9
A medium-sized bird with red legs and brown patterned feathers from western Europe
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Alectoris ruffa
  • The Alectoris ruffa is a popular game bird known for its red legs and distinctive plumage.

Examples

  • The Alectoris ruffa is a popular game bird in Spain and France.

  • Conservation efforts have helped increase the population of Alectoris ruffa in some regions.

  • Birdwatchers often seek to spot the distinctive Alectoris ruffa in rural European landscapes.

  • Look at that Alectoris ruffa!

  • Did you see the Alectoris ruffas in the field?

  • Birdwatchers often seek to spot the distinctive Alectoris ruffa in rural European landscapes.

  • Conservation efforts have helped increase the population of Alectoris ruffa in some regions.

Synonyms

red-legged partridge
vsAlectoris ruffa
7.5

A large brown bird with red legs that lives in western Europe

is the formal scientific name for that same species of bird

Surface Forms

Alectoris ruffa singular
Alectoris ruffas plural

Morphology

Alectoris + ruffa

This is a Latin binomial: knowing 'Alectoris' (a genus of partridges) lets a learner infer that the phrase names a kind of partridge, but 'ruffa' is not an ordinary English word and is undefined here. The detailed attributes (native range, red legs, distinctive plumage) cannot be derived from the constituents, so the expression is only partially comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Alectoris ruffa is a scientific name made of old Latin words: Alectoris is the group name for partridges and ruffa means 'red'. The image of 'red' helps you remember this species because the bird has red legs and warm-coloured feathers, so the name points to this particular partridge.