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Glite Dictionary
Sterna hirundo

Sterna hirundo

9.9
A small sea bird with white, black, and grey feathers that nests in Europe and North America
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Sterna hirundo
  • The Sterna hirundo can be identified by its sharp black cap and forked tail.

Examples

  • Researchers observed the nesting habits of Sterna hirundo on several European islands.

  • Every summer, flocks of Sterna hirundo migrate along the coastline.

  • The Sterna hirundo is known for its elegant flight.

  • Have you ever seen a Sterna hirundo in the wild?

  • Every summer, flocks of Sterna hirundo migrate along the coastline.

  • Researchers observed the nesting habits of Sterna hirundo on several European islands.

  • The Sterna hirundo can be identified by its sharp black cap and forked tail.

Synonyms

sea swallow
vsSterna hirundo
7.8

A small sea bird with white, black, and grey feathers that dives to catch fish

means the same but uses another name for the same species

Surface Forms

Sterna hirundo singular
Sterna hirundos plural

Morphology

Sterna + Hirundo

This is a Latin binomial taxonomic name rather than a compositional English phrase; knowing 'Sterna' (terns) and 'Hirundo' (swallows) does not allow a B1 learner to derive the common-name meaning 'common tern' or its descriptive features. Scientific names function as arbitrary labels across languages, so the overall meaning is not predictably built from the constituent terms.

Etymology

Sterna hirundo is a scientific name that mixes two Latin words: Sterna for the tern and hirundo meaning 'swallow'. People gave this name because the bird's forked tail and quick flight look like a swallow, so the name points to the bird we call the 'common tern'.