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Parula americana

Parula americana

9.9
A small North American bird with blue-grey feathers and a yellow throat and chest
  • noun
  • /pəˈruːlə əˈmɛrɪkən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Parula americana
  • The bright throat patch helps identify Parula americana in dense forest canopies.

Examples

  • In eastern forests, the Parula americana prefers to nest in hanging Spanish moss.

  • I spotted a Parula americana while hiking in Florida.

  • Birdwatchers often seek the Parula americana during spring migration.

  • The Parula americana is often seen in the southeastern United States.

  • In eastern forests, the Parula americana prefers to nest in hanging Spanish moss.

  • Birdwatchers often seek the Parula americana during spring migration.

  • The bright throat patch helps identify Parula americana in dense forest canopies.

Synonyms

northern parula
vsParula americana
  • US
8.6

A small blue-gray songbird with a yellow throat and chest in eastern North America

is the scientific Latin name used alongside the common English name
parula warbler
vsParula americana
  • US
9.9

A small blue-gray bird with a bright yellow throat and breast found in eastern North America

is the precise Latin name rather than that broader common name

Surface Forms

Morphology

Parula + americana

This is a compositional taxonomic name: 'Parula' names the genus (small American warblers) and 'americana' is a Latin adjectival epithet meaning 'of America' / 'American'. A learner who knows both constituents can therefore infer it refers to the American/ North American species of Parula, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

The bird Parula americana was named in Latin: Parula is a small form of a word for a little songbird ('tit'), and americana means 'American'. So the name simply shows a small American songbird, which matches this tiny blue-grey bird with a yellow throat.