swallow shrike
- noun
- Australian
:
alcaudón golondrina
- A swallow shrike can be identified by its long wings and hooked beak.
Examples
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Researchers observed the nesting habits of the swallow shrike in northern Australia.
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The swallow shrike is often seen darting through the forests of Southeast Asia.
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The swallow shrike is known for its distinctive plumage.
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Have you ever seen a swallow shrike in the wild?
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The swallow shrike can be easily recognized by its slender body and pointed wings.
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In Australia, the swallow shrike often builds its nest in tall trees.
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Birdwatchers enjoy observing the swallow shrike as it catches insects mid-air.
Synonyms
A small bird with long wings that lives near trees and eats insects
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound combines two concrete bird names so a learner who knows 'swallow' and 'shrike' can infer it denotes a bird related to shrikes with swallow-like appearance; the meaning is compositionally built from the constituents. Such noun–noun naming patterns for species are cross-linguistically common and therefore predictable for B1 learners.
Etymology
Swallow shrike combines two bird names to make a simple picture. It looks like a swallow with long wings but has a hooked beak and catches insects like a shrike, so the name tells you both how it looks and what it does.
