harrier eagle
- noun
- /ˈhɛriər ˈiɡəl/
:
águila harriera
- The harrier eagle is found in parts of Africa, where it preys on small mammals and birds.
Examples
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Unlike true eagles, the harrier eagle displays some features typical of hawks as well.
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Birdwatchers were excited to spot a rare harrier eagle soaring above the plain.
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Look at that magnificent harrier eagle over there!
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The harrier eagle soared gracefully in the sky.
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Birdwatchers were excited to spot a rare harrier eagle soaring above the plain.
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The harrier eagle is found in parts of Africa, where it preys on small mammals and birds.
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Look at that magnificent harrier eagle over there!
Synonyms
Large birds of prey like harrier eagles that hunt snakes and other reptiles
A large hunting bird with features of both an eagle and a hawk
A large bird of prey with short toes that often hunts snakes
Surface Forms
Morphology
The sense is directly predictable from combining 'harrier' (a type of raptor) with 'eagle' (a large predatory bird): a B1 learner who knows both words can infer this refers to a bird of prey sharing harrier-like features but classed as an eagle. Compound species names follow transparent noun+noun composition cross-linguistically, so the overall meaning is compositional and accessible to learners who know the constituents.
Etymology
Harrier eagle combines harrier, a bird that 'hunts low' over open ground, and eagle, a large 'bird of prey'. The name gives a clear picture: a big eagle-like bird that also hunts like a harrier, so it refers to a bird with features between hawks and eagles.
