Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Coracias garrulus

Coracias garrulus

9.9
A brightly colored bird from Europe with blue and green feathers and a red-brown back
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Coracias garrulus
  • We spotted a Coracias garrulus with its vibrant blue and green plumage while hiking in the forest.

Examples

  • We spotted a Coracias garrulus perching on a telephone wire during our trip to Spain.

  • The conservation status of Coracias garrulus has raised concerns among ornithologists.

  • A Coracias garrulus was photographed feeding its young in the open countryside.

  • The Coracias garrulus is a stunning bird to observe.

  • Have you ever seen a Coracias garrulus in the wild?

  • The Coracias garrulus is known for its striking colors and acrobatic flight patterns in the sky.

  • During our vacation, we were thrilled to see a Coracias garrulus nesting in a tree near our campsite.

Synonyms

European roller
vsCoracias garrulus
  • UK
8.9

A brightly coloured bird with blue and green feathers and a reddish back that flies in quick rolls

focuses on species identity and bright plumage rather than habitat or display

Surface Forms

Coracias garrulus singular
Coracias garruli plural

Morphology

Coracias + Garrulus

The form is a Linnaean binomial made of two genus names, so a learner who knows 'Coracias' and 'Garrulus' can infer that this labels a species of bird. However, the precise identity ('European roller') and the descriptive attributes are not derivable from the Latin constituents, and taxonomic names are specialised, making the meaning only partially predictable.

Etymology

Coracias garrulus may come from an old Greek word for a bright, colorful bird and the Latin word garrulus. Since garrulus means 'noisy' or 'talkative' and the bird is very colorful and often heard calling, the name helps you remember the European roller as a bright, noisy bird.