Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
fig-bird

fig-bird

9.5
A green and yellow Australian bird that eats mainly figs and other fruit
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : pájaro higuera
  • We watched a brightly colored fig-bird feeding on ripe figs in the garden.

Examples

  • Local fig-birds play an important role spreading seeds of native fruit trees after eating ripe figs.

  • The fig-bird is often found in moist woodlands near rivers in eastern Australia.

  • The fig-bird is known for its bright colors.

  • I saw a fig-bird in the garden yesterday.

  • We watched a brightly colored fig-bird feeding on ripe figs in the garden.

  • Local fig-birds play an important role spreading seeds of native fruit trees after eating ripe figs.

  • The fig-bird is often found in moist woodlands near rivers in eastern Australia.

Surface Forms

fig-bird singular
fig-birds plural

Morphology

fig-bird = fig + bird (transparent) = fig + bird

The compound denotes a bird associated with figs (feeding on or living near them), which a learner knowing 'fig' and 'bird' can readily infer.

Etymology

Fig-bird is a simple English name made from fig and bird, and it literally means 'a bird that eats figs'. These bright Australian birds feed mainly on figs and other fruit and help spread seeds, so the name tells you exactly what they do.