Skip to main content
genus Spizella

genus Spizella

9.9
A group of small American sparrows like the chipping sparrow
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒiːnəs spɪˈzɛlə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Spizella
  • The genus Spizella includes the well-known chipping sparrow found across North America.

Examples

  • Several species within the genus Spizella are noted for their distinctive melodic songs.

  • The genus Spizella includes several species of sparrows.

  • Ornithologists often study the genus Spizella to understand the evolution of American sparrows.

  • Did you know that the genus Spizella has over three species?

  • Ornithologists often study the genus Spizella to understand the evolution of American sparrows.

  • Several species within the genus Spizella are noted for their distinctive melodic songs.

  • The genus Spizella includes the well-known chipping sparrow found across North America.

Synonyms

Spizella
vsgenus Spizella
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of small North American sparrows like the chipping sparrow

includes one more species, covering three small American sparrows

Surface Forms

Morphology

genus + Spizella

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' denotes a biological rank and 'Spizella' is the proper name of that taxon, so the meaning 'the genus named Spizella' follows directly from the constituents. Taxonomic noun-noun constructions like this are regular and cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both words will understand it.

Etymology

Genus Spizella likely comes from old Greek or Latin words: spiza meant a finch and the small ending -ella made it 'little finch'. That's why the name fits a group of small American sparrows today.