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Glite Dictionary
Richmondena cardinalis

Richmondena cardinalis

9.9
A medium-sized North American bird with a pointed crest and thick beak whose male is bright red
  • noun
  • /ˌrɪtʃˈmʌndɪnə kɑrˈdɪnəlɪs/
  • Archaic
translation icon : Richmondena cardinalis
  • Male Richmondena cardinalis are easily recognized by their brilliant red coloration and prominent crest.

Examples

  • The Richmondena cardinalis is often seen at bird feeders throughout eastern North America.

  • Many bird watchers hope to spot the distinctive Richmondena cardinalis during the spring migration.

  • The Richmondena cardinalis is a vibrant bird found in North America.

  • Have you ever seen a Richmondena cardinalis in your backyard?

  • The male Richmondena cardinalis is recognizable by its striking red feathers and tall crest.

  • During winter, the bright red Richmondena cardinalis can often be spotted at feeders searching for seeds.

  • Many nature enthusiasts travel to see the vibrant Richmondena cardinalis in its natural habitat.

Synonyms

cardinal
vsRichmondena cardinalis
  • US
4 4.1

A North American songbird with bright red male feathers and a crest

is the full scientific term rather than a shorter common label
redbird
vsRichmondena cardinalis
  • US
1 3.5

A North American songbird with bright red feathers like the male northern cardinal

is the specific scientific name not the general informal label
cardinal grosbeak
vsRichmondena cardinalis
  • US
8.4

A bright red North American bird with a crest and a thick beak that eats seeds

is the scientific name commonly used for the same species
northern cardinal
vsRichmondena cardinalis
  • US
5.3

A North American songbird with a crest and thick bill, male bright red and female brown with red highlights

is the general species name without the extra habitat or female detail

Surface Forms

Richmondena cardinalis singular
Richmondena cardinalises plural

Morphology

Richmondena + cardinalis

This is a scientific Latin binomial: 'Richmondena' denotes a bird genus and 'cardinalis' functions as a species epithet meaning ‘cardinal-like’. A learner who knows both constituents could infer it names a bird related to cardinals, but understanding the exact common-name referent and the Latin taxonomic convention requires extra background knowledge, so the meaning is only partially derivable.

Etymology

Richmondena cardinalis is a Latin name that likely mixes a person's name and a colour image: one popular story says the first part, Richmondena, honours a bird scientist named Richmond, and the second part, cardinalis, comes from 'cardinal' because the male's bright red feathers look like a cardinal's red clothes. So the name points to the red 'northern cardinal' bird people see at feeders.