Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Cinclus mexicanus

Cinclus mexicanus

9.9
A small bird in western North America that lives by cold streams and dives into water to catch insects
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cinclus mexicanus
  • Researchers observed the Cinclus mexicanus diving underwater to catch insects.

Examples

  • The Cinclus mexicanus is frequently seen foraging along rocky streams.

  • Unlike most songbirds, the Cinclus mexicanus is well adapted to aquatic habitats.

  • Wow! That Cinclus mexicanus just caught a fish!

  • I saw a Cinclus mexicanus near the river yesterday.

  • The Cinclus mexicanus can often be spotted diving into the water to find food.

  • During spring, the Cinclus mexicanus builds its nest near fast-flowing streams.

  • The lively song of the Cinclus mexicanus can be heard echoing through the forested riverbanks.

Synonyms

American water ouzel
vsCinclus mexicanus
  • US
9.9

A small bird that lives by streams and dives underwater to catch insects

is the formal scientific species name used in identification
dipper
vsCinclus mexicanus
  • Specialized
9.1

A small strong bird that lives by fast streams and dives for insects

is one specific species within that family native to western North America

Surface Forms

Cinclus mexicanus singular
Cinclus mexicani singular

Morphology

Cinclus + mexicanus

This is a scientific Latin binomial: the genus name 'Cinclus' explicitly denotes dippers, so a learner who knows that constituent will recognise the MWE refers to a type of dipper. The species epithet 'mexicanus' is a Latin form (not common English) and only partly inferable by resemblance to 'Mexican', so the full meaning is only partly predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Cinclus mexicanus is the formal name for the American dipper, a small river bird that 'dips' into fast streams to catch insects. The first part, Cinclus, identifies the dipper and the second part, mexicanus, points to the region where it was first described, so the name brings to mind a bird that 'dips' into water and explains its behavior today.