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Blackburnian warbler

Blackburnian warbler

9.4
A small North American bird with black and white feathers and a bright orange head and throat
  • noun
  • /ˌblækˈbɜrnɪən ˈwɔrbələr/
  • Specialized
translation icon : reinita de Blackburn
  • I photographed a male Blackburnian warbler feeding on insects high in the forest canopy.

Examples

  • The Blackburnian warbler's vivid coloring makes it easy to spot among the treetops in spring.

  • Birdwatchers often travel just to catch a glimpse of the Blackburnian warbler during migration season.

  • The Blackburnian warbler is known for its vibrant colors.

  • Many birdwatchers seek to spot the Blackburnian warbler during migration.

  • Birdwatchers often travel just to catch a glimpse of the Blackburnian warbler during migration season.

  • I photographed a male Blackburnian warbler feeding on insects high in the forest canopy.

  • The Blackburnian warbler's vivid coloring makes it easy to spot among the treetops in spring.

Synonyms

Dendroica fusca
vsBlackburnian warbler
  • Archaic
9.9

A small North American songbird with a bright orange throat and black-and-white markings

is the common everyday name used by most people rather than the scientific one

Surface Forms

Morphology

Blackburnian + warbler

The structure 'Blackburnian warbler' is an adjective + noun where 'warbler' clearly signals a type of small songbird, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will infer it is a kind of bird. However, 'Blackburnian' is an eponymic/proper adjective that does not transparently describe the bird's appearance or meaning (it derives from a name/place), so the precise sense and distinctive features are not predictable from the parts.

Etymology

One popular story says the bird Blackburnian warbler was 'named after' the English collector Blackburne, who sent examples of the bright bird to early scientists. Early scientists often gave new birds the names of the people who found or sent them, so the name simply honors the person who helped them find this colorful little bird.