northern cardinal
- noun
- /ˈnɔrðərn ˈkɑrdɪnəl/
- US
:
cardenal del norte
- The male northern cardinal is easily recognized by its vivid red feathers and striking crest.
Examples
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Male northern cardinals are famous for their striking red feathers and black face mask.
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The northern cardinal is known for its vibrant red color.
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A bright red northern cardinal perched on the backyard feeder, attracting everyone's attention.
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The song of the northern cardinal is commonly heard across much of eastern North America.
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I spotted a beautiful northern cardinal in the garden.
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You can often hear the cheerful song of the northern cardinal in the early morning.
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During winter, the bright plumage of the northern cardinal stands out against the snow-covered branches.
Synonyms
4
4.1
A North American songbird with bright red male feathers and a crest
1
3.5
A North American songbird with bright red feathers like the male northern cardinal
A medium-sized North American bird with a pointed crest and thick beak whose male is bright red
A bright red North American bird with a crest and a thick beak that eats seeds
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'cardinal' refers to the bird and 'northern' simply restricts it geographically, so the meaning (the cardinal species found in northern areas) is directly derivable from the constituents. This adjective+noun pattern is a common, cross-linguistic way to form species/place descriptors, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand it.
Etymology
The bird northern cardinal gets its name from the bright red color of the male; one popular story says people thought the red bird looked like a church leader called a 'cardinal', who wears red robes. So the name helps you remember that the male is very red and that the bird lives in the north.