genus Contopus
- noun
- /ˈdʒiːnəs kənˈtoʊpəs/
- Specialized
:
género Contopus
- The genus Contopus comprises several species of pewees found in the Americas.
Examples
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Birdwatchers often try to distinguish members of the genus Contopus by their distinctive calls.
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Research on the genus Contopus has helped ornithologists understand migration patterns in flycatchers.
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The genus Contopus includes several species of pewees.
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Birdwatchers are often excited to spot a genus Contopus in the wild.
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Birdwatchers often try to distinguish members of the genus Contopus by their distinctive calls.
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Research on the genus Contopus has helped ornithologists understand migration patterns in flycatchers.
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The genus Contopus comprises several species of pewees found in the Americas.
Synonyms
A small insect-eating bird like a pewee found in the Americas
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase combining 'genus' (a biological rank) with the taxon name 'Contopus'; a learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it denotes that genus of pewees. Although 'Contopus' is a scientific proper name, the composition follows a regular, cross-linguistically common pattern for naming taxa, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Genus Contopus may come from old Greek words meaning 'pole' and 'foot', giving the picture of a bird sitting on a thin pole or branch. One popular idea says this image fits these small 'pewees', which often sit on perches and watch for insects, so the name links to their habit of hunting from a perch.
