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Glite Dictionary
Carpodacus mexicanus

Carpodacus mexicanus

9.9
A small North American bird with red on its head and chest like a house finch
  • noun
  • /kɑrˈpoʊdəkəs ˌmɛksɪˈkænəs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Carpodacus mexicanus
  • Researchers observed the nesting habits of Carpodacus mexicanus during the spring season.

Examples

  • The range of Carpodacus mexicanus has expanded to cover much of the United States.

  • A Carpodacus mexicanus is singing.

  • A flock of Carpodacus mexicanus gathered at the feeder outside the window.

  • Look at that Carpodacus mexicanus!

  • A flock of Carpodacus mexicanus gathered at the feeder outside the window.

  • Researchers observed the nesting habits of Carpodacus mexicanus during the spring season.

  • The range of Carpodacus mexicanus has expanded to cover much of the United States.

Synonyms

house finch
vsCarpodacus mexicanus
  • US
1 6.8

A small North American bird with brown or gray feathers and red on the male's head and breast

has identical meaning but is the scientific Latin name

Surface Forms

Carpodacus mexicanus singular
Carpodacus mexicanuses plural

Morphology

Carpodacus + mexicanus

The binomial name is directly compositional: Carpodacus identifies the finch genus and mexicanus is a Latin adjectival epithet meaning 'from Mexico' or 'Mexican'. A learner who knows both constituents can therefore infer it denotes a Carpodacus from Mexico (i.e. a type of finch); binomial Latin naming is a regular, cross-linguistic convention, making the meaning predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Carpodacus mexicanus may come from old word parts: carpo- meaning 'fruit' and -dacus meaning 'to bite', because these small finches eat berries. The last part, mexicanus, means 'from Mexico', so the name gives the picture of a berry-eating bird from Mexico and helps you remember it is the 'house finch'.