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Glite Dictionary
mountain partridge

mountain partridge

8.2
A medium-sized bird from western North America, larger than a California quail
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : perdiz de montaña
  • The mountain partridge is distinguished by its larger size compared to the California quail.

Examples

  • We spotted a mountain partridge while hiking in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

  • Many birdwatchers seek to spot the mountain partridge in the wild.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the mountain partridge.

  • The mountain partridge is known for its distinctive call.

  • We spotted a mountain partridge while hiking in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the habitat of the mountain partridge.

  • Many birdwatchers seek to spot the mountain partridge in the wild.

Synonyms

mountain quail
vsmountain partridge
  • US
9.0

A small ground bird in western North America that lives in mountains and has a long feather on its head

is a western bird similar in size but lacking the long plume

Surface Forms

mountain partridge singular
mountain partridges plural

Morphology

mountain + partridge

The meaning — a type of partridge associated with mountain habitat — follows directly from combining 'mountain' (a high landform) and 'partridge' (a bird). This noun-noun compound is a transparent species/locational naming pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Mountain partridge is a simple naming image: it names a partridge that lives in the mountains. A partridge is a small ground bird, so adding mountain tells you where it lives, and that is why the name refers to this particular western North American bird, also called the 'California partridge'.