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Glite Dictionary
zygodactyl foot

zygodactyl foot

9.9
A bird foot with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward
  • noun
  • /ˌzaɪɡəˈdæktɪl fʊt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : pie zigodáctilo
  • Many woodpeckers have a zygodactyl foot to help them cling to tree trunks while pecking for insects.

Examples

  • Unlike most songbirds, parrots possess a zygodactyl foot, enabling them to manipulate food items skillfully.

  • The zygodactyl foot arrangement is ideal for birds that need to grasp branches or vertical surfaces securely.

  • The parrot has a unique zygodactyl foot.

  • Many birds, like owls, have zygodactyl feet.

  • Many woodpeckers have a zygodactyl foot to help them cling to tree trunks while pecking for insects.

  • The zygodactyl foot arrangement is ideal for birds that need to grasp branches or vertical surfaces securely.

  • Unlike most songbirds, parrots possess a zygodactyl foot, enabling them to manipulate food items skillfully.

Surface Forms

zygodactyl foot singular
zygodactyl feet plural

Morphology

zygodactyl + foot

The adjective 'zygodactyl' describes a specific toe-arrangement and 'foot' is literal, so the noun phrase directly denotes a foot with that arrangement. This is a straightforward adjective + noun composition following normal English patterns, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Zygodactyl foot describes a bird foot with two 'toes' pointing 'forward' and two 'toes' pointing 'backward', so the foot makes a strong 'grip'. That's why birds with a zygodactyl foot can cling to tree trunks and hold food easily.