Larus ridibundus
- noun
- Specialized
:
gaviota reidora
- The Larus ridibundus is easily recognized by its white body and chocolate-brown head during breeding season.
Examples
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During spring, the Larus ridibundus can be seen nesting in large colonies across European wetlands.
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Look at that Larus ridibundus diving for fish!
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A flock of Larus ridibundus soared above the river, their distinctive calls echoing in the early morning.
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Have you ever seen a Larus ridibundus in flight?
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A flock of Larus ridibundus soared above the river, their distinctive calls echoing in the early morning.
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During spring, the Larus ridibundus can be seen nesting in large colonies across European wetlands.
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The Larus ridibundus is easily recognized by its white body and chocolate-brown head during breeding season.
Synonyms
A small sea bird found in Europe with a black head during breeding season
Surface Forms
Morphology
Larus + ridibundus
This is a scientific Latin binomial (a taxonomic name) rather than a compositional English phrase; its sense 'black-headed gull' is a learned label and not derivable from ordinary English vocabulary. Even if a learner recognised 'Larus' as a gull genus, the constituent 'ridibundus' is not an English word and the species identity and characteristics would not be predictable, so the expression is opaque to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Larus ridibundus comes from Latin words used by scientists: Larus means 'gull' and ridibundus means 'laughing' because the bird's call sounds like a laugh. So the name describes this small 'gull', the black-headed gull, and helps you remember it by its laughing call.
