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Glite Dictionary
Arenaria interpres

Arenaria interpres

9.9
A shore bird that breeds in the Arctic and winters in South America or Australia
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : arenaria interpres
  • The Arenaria interpres is easily recognized by its striking plumage and habit of flipping over stones for food.

Examples

  • Researchers tracked the Arenaria interpres as it traveled thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds.

  • Every spring, flocks of Arenaria interpres can be seen migrating along the coastline.

  • The Arenaria interpres is known for its distinctive plumage.

  • Have you ever seen an Arenaria interpres in the wild?

  • Every spring, flocks of Arenaria interpres can be seen migrating along the coastline.

  • Researchers tracked the Arenaria interpres as it traveled thousands of miles between breeding and wintering grounds.

  • The Arenaria interpres is easily recognized by its striking plumage and habit of flipping over stones for food.

Synonyms

ruddy turnstone
vsArenaria interpres
1 9.1

A medium shorebird with reddish-brown and black feathers that turns stones to find food

is the scientific name used for that same species
turnstone
vsArenaria interpres
1 9.0

A small bird that lives by the sea and flips stones to find food

is the specific species that breeds in the Arctic and winters far south
Arenaria
vsArenaria interpres
  • Specialized
9.9

A small shore bird that flips stones to find food

is one specific species within that broader coastal genus

Surface Forms

Arenaria interpres singular
Arenaria interpreses plural

Morphology

Arenaria + interpres

This is a Latin binomial species name functioning as a proper taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase; knowing the parts does not give the common meaning. One constituent is not found in the dictionary and even though 'Arenaria' suggests a shorebird, the full name 'Arenaria interpres' would be opaque to a B1 learner who has not seen the species name before.

Etymology

Arenaria interpres comes from Latin: Arenaria means 'of the sand' and interpres means 'messenger' or 'interpreter', because people saw the bird flip stones and seaweed on the shore to find food. So the name points to its habit of turning things on the beach, which is why people call it the 'turnstone'.