sedge warbler
- noun
- /ˈsɛdʒ ˈwɔːblə/
- UK
- The sedge warbler migrates thousands of miles to Africa each autumn.
Examples
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Birdwatchers often visit the marshes in spring to observe the arrival of sedge warblers.
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We spotted a sedge warbler singing among the rushes by the riverbank.
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I spotted a sedge warbler in the reeds.
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The sedge warbler sings beautifully at dawn.
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Birdwatchers often visit the marshes in spring to observe the arrival of sedge warblers.
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We spotted a sedge warbler singing among the rushes by the riverbank.
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The sedge warbler migrates thousands of miles to Africa each autumn.
Synonyms
A small European songbird that breeds in reeds and moves to Africa for the winter
A small songbird that lives in reeds and flies to Africa in winter
A small European songbird that nests in reeds and winters in Africa
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is transparently built from 'sedge' (a grasslike plant found in reeds/wetlands) and 'warbler' (a small songbird), so a learner who knows both words will readily infer it is a warbler associated with sedge habitat — a small songbird found in reeds. This follows a common noun+noun naming pattern for animals and is cross-linguistically predictable, so the basic meaning is immediately derivable from the parts.
Etymology
The noun sedge warbler is named for where it lives and what it does: sedge are tall marsh plants and a warbler is a small singing bird. That's why the name means 'a small songbird of the marshes'.