field sparrow
- noun
- /fiːld ˈspɛrəʊər/
- US
:
gorrión de campo
- I spotted a field sparrow in the tall grass.
Examples
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During spring, the sweet song of the field sparrow can be heard in rural meadows across the region.
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A field sparrow landed quietly on the fence post, surveying the overgrown pasture.
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The distinctive pink bill of the field sparrow helps birdwatchers distinguish it from other similar finches.
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The field sparrow sings beautifully in the morning.
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In the summer, we often see a field sparrow flitting between the tall grasses in the open field.
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The field sparrow is commonly found in brushy areas, where it builds its nest in dense vegetation.
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While walking through the pastures, I spotted a field sparrow foraging for seeds near the ground.
Synonyms
A small North American sparrow with a pink bill and clear musical song that lives in open fields
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a sparrow associated with fields' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'field' (a plot of land) with 'sparrow' (a small songbird). This habitat-based noun–noun compound follows a common and predictable compositional pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Field sparrow comes from where the bird lives: a small sparrow that lives in open fields and meadows. So field + sparrow simply means a 'small songbird' found in fields.
