indigo finch
- noun
- /ˈɪndɪɡoʊ fɪntʃ/
- US
:
pinzón índigo
- The vibrant blue feathers of the indigo finch make it easy to identify in the wild.
Examples
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While hiking, I was thrilled to see an indigo finch perched on a branch, singing beautifully.
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Many birdwatchers hope to catch a glimpse of the elusive indigo finch each spring.
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During our walk, we spotted an indigo finch singing from the treetop.
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The indigo finch is known for its vibrant blue color.
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I spotted an indigo finch in my backyard yesterday.
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The bright color of the indigo finch makes it one of the most sought-after birds for photographers.
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Every spring, the indigo finch returns to the area, filling the air with its cheerful song.
Synonyms
A small North American songbird with bright blue feathers on the male during breeding season
A small North American songbird whose male has bright blue feathers in summer
A small songbird from North America with bright blue male feathers
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'indigo' describes the deep blue color and 'finch' names the small songbird, so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a finch with indigo plumage. This straightforward modifier + noun pattern is cross-linguistically common and non-idiomatic, making the expression immediately comprehensible.
Etymology
Indigo finch is named for how the bird looks: indigo means a deep blue dye and finch is a small singing bird, so the name gives a clear picture of a 'small songbird' with 'deep blue' feathers.
