Steganopus tricolor
- noun
- Specialized
- Researchers observed the nesting behavior of Steganopus tricolor in the prairie wetlands.
Examples
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The Steganopus tricolor migrates thousands of miles each year between its breeding and wintering grounds.
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Conservationists are monitoring Steganopus tricolor populations in response to habitat changes.
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The Steganopus tricolor is known for its distinctive plumage.
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Have you seen a Steganopus tricolor in Canada?
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Conservationists are monitoring Steganopus tricolor populations in response to habitat changes.
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Researchers observed the nesting behavior of Steganopus tricolor in the prairie wetlands.
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The Steganopus tricolor migrates thousands of miles each year between its breeding and wintering grounds.
Synonyms
A small North American shorebird that moves south for winter
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a Linnaean binomial combining the genus name Steganopus (a type of wading bird) with tricolor (three-colored), so a learner who knows both constituents could infer it refers to a three‑coloured member of that genus — i.e., a species of bird. However, genus names are specialized labels and the exact referent (Wilson's phalarope) and the taxonomic naming convention are not predictable for a B1 learner, making the transparency only partial.
Etymology
Steganopus tricolor comes from old Greek and Latin words: Steganopus means 'hidden foot' and tricolor means 'three colours'. This image of a small shorebird with partly hidden legs and three-colour feathers helps explain why this is the scientific name for the bird called Wilson's phalarope today.