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Glite Dictionary
Erolia minutilla

Erolia minutilla

9.9
A very small North American shorebird that is the smallest sandpiper
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Erolia minutilla
  • The Erolia minutilla is commonly seen foraging along muddy shores in North America.

Examples

  • Researchers tagged several Erolia minutilla to better understand their migratory patterns.

  • The Erolia minutilla is often found along muddy shores.

  • Many bird watchers hope to spot the elusive Erolia minutilla during spring migration.

  • The Erolia minutilla migrates in large flocks along the Atlantic coast each autumn.

  • Have you ever seen an Erolia minutilla in the wild?

  • Many bird watchers hope to spot the elusive Erolia minutilla during spring migration.

  • Researchers tagged several Erolia minutilla to better understand their migratory patterns.

Synonyms

least sandpiper
vsErolia minutilla
  • US
9.6

A very small bird that lives on coasts in North America with yellow green legs

is the same in meaning but uses the common species name

Surface Forms

Erolia minutilla singular
Erolia minutillae plural

Morphology

Erolia + minutilla

This is a scientific binomial (genus + species) functioning as a proper name; its referent ('least sandpiper') is not compositionally derived from the parts. 'Erolia' is an arbitrary taxonomic label and 'minutilla' is a Latin-form element not recognizable to an average B1 learner, so the bird identity and meaning cannot be inferred from the constituents.

Etymology

Erolia minutilla is a scientific name that combines Erolia, a name for a group of small sandpipers, and minutilla, a Latin word meaning 'very small', so the name points to this bird being the tiny 'smallest shorebird' in North America.