black-capped chickadee
1
8.5
- noun
- /blæk kæpt ˈʧɪkədi/
- US
:
carbonero de capucha negra
- The black-capped chickadee is a common bird in North America.
Examples
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We spotted a black-capped chickadee flitting among the branches in the snowy forest.
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As I watched the black-capped chickadee flit between branches, I marveled at its vibrant colors and lively behavior.
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A black-capped chickadee visited our bird feeder every morning last winter.
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The black-capped chickadee is well known for its cheerful song all year round.
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I spotted a black-capped chickadee in my backyard yesterday.
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During winter, I frequently hear the cheerful call of the black-capped chickadee while walking through the forest.
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The black-capped chickadee is known for its distinct black cap and its ability to adapt to various habitats.
Synonyms
9
5.8
A small North American bird with grey and black feathers and a clear cheerful call
A small North American bird with a black cap and white cheeks
Surface Forms
Morphology
black-capped + chickadee
The phrase is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'chickadee' names the small bird and 'black-capped' describes having a black cap, so the meaning ('a chickadee with a black/black-capped head') is directly derivable from the parts. This kind of adjective + noun composition is common cross-linguistically and follows regular English compounding, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will understand it.
Etymology
The name black-capped chickadee comes from two simple images: the bird has a black 'cap' on its head and it makes a chickadee 'call' that sounds like 'chick-a-dee'. So the name tells you how the bird looks and sounds.