summer tanager
- noun
- /ˈsʌmər ˈtænədʒər/
- US
:
tángara de verano
- During spring and summer, the vibrant male summer tanager can often be spotted in the trees of southern U.S. backyards.
Examples
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Birdwatchers travel to the southern states each spring to see migrating summer tanagers.
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The summer tanager is known for its vibrant colors.
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The male summer tanager is easily recognized by its vibrant red plumage.
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We spotted a summer tanager perched in the flowering dogwood tree.
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I spotted a summer tanager in the tree.
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In the lush forest, a summer tanager sang beautifully, its bright red feathers shining in the sunlight.
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Birdwatchers flock to the area to catch a glimpse of the rare summer tanager alongside other colorful songbirds.
Synonyms
A small bird from North America with bright red males and yellow females
A bird in the central and southern United States whose male is deep red and female is mostly yellow
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where the first noun ('summer') modifies the second ('tanager'), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a type of tanager associated with summer. The meaning is referential and compositional (a bird name), not idiomatic or metaphorical, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners who know the constituents.
Etymology
Summer tanager is a name that paints a picture: summer because the bird is seen in warm months, and tanager because it is part of a group of bright, colorful 'songbirds'. The male's deep red color, like a summer berry, makes the image easy to remember. That's why the name now means this red bird often seen in summer.
