harrier eagle
- noun
- /ˈhɛriər ˈiɡəl/
- 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
1
9.1
A large bird of prey with short toes that often hunts snakes
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
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.