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Glite Dictionary
American redstart

American redstart

7.7
A small North American bird whose male has bright orange patches
  • noun
  • /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈrɛdˌstɑrt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : setophaga roja
  • The American redstart is known for its vibrant colors.

Examples

  • I saw an American redstart in the park yesterday.

  • The American redstart migrates south for the winter each year.

  • Female American redstarts have more subdued colors compared to the males.

  • We saw a brilliant male American redstart flashing its orange feathers in the forest.

  • The male American redstart displays striking orange patches on its wings during the spring mating season.

  • While birdwatching, we spotted an American redstart flitting from branch to branch in the wooded area.

  • The American redstart is a vibrant warbler that can often be seen in gardens and parks throughout North America.

Synonyms

Setophaga ruticilla
vsAmerican redstart
  • Specialized
9.9

A small bird called the American redstart whose male has bright orange patches on its wings and tail

is the common everyday name used instead of the scientific form

Surface Forms

American redstart singular
American redstarts plural

Morphology

American + redstart

The phrase is fully compositional: 'American' specifies geographic origin and 'redstart' names a small bird with a reddish/orange tail, so the combined phrase denotes the American species of that bird. This follows a common adjective + noun species-naming pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

American redstart gets its name from the bird's bright red-orange tail feathers. The name joins red and start, because start once meant 'tail', so it literally means 'red tail' and refers to the male's bright tail that he flashes when moving and hunting.