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Glite Dictionary
pheasant cuckoo

pheasant cuckoo

9.9
A large tropical bird with a long tail like a pheasant
  • noun
  • /ˈfɛzənt ˈkuːkuː/
  • US
translation icon : cucú faisán
  • During our birdwatching trip, we spotted a pheasant cuckoo displaying its long tail.

Examples

  • Many ornithologists are fascinated by the pheasant cuckoo's unique calls and secretive behavior.

  • The pheasant cuckoo is rarely seen due to its elusive nature in dense forests.

  • The pheasant cuckoo is known for its striking appearance.

  • Did you see the pheasant cuckoo at the zoo?

  • During our birdwatching trip, we spotted a pheasant cuckoo displaying its long tail.

  • Many ornithologists are fascinated by the pheasant cuckoo's unique calls and secretive behavior.

  • The pheasant cuckoo is rarely seen due to its elusive nature in dense forests.

Surface Forms

pheasant cuckoo singular
pheasant cuckoos plural

Morphology

pheasant + cuckoo

The compound 'pheasant cuckoo' is transparently compositional: it denotes a type of cuckoo that has pheasant-like characteristics (notably a long tail). This noun+noun naming pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows 'pheasant' and 'cuckoo' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Pheasant cuckoo is named for how it looks: it is a cuckoo bird with a 'long, showy tail' like a pheasant. So the name helps you picture this large tropical bird with a long tail.