Definition

Noun: * A migratory American songbird: Dolichonyx oryzivorus is the scientific name for a specific species of small, migratory songbird native to the Americas. It is commonly known as the bobolink.

Usage

• The term is used in formal, scientific, or academic contexts such as ornithology (the study of birds), wildlife biology, and conservation. It precisely identifies the species, avoiding the ambiguity that can sometimes come with common names.
• In everyday language, the common name "bobolink" is almost always used instead.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The study focused on the declining population of Dolichonyx oryzivorus in the prairie region.
  • On the birding checklist, Dolichonyx oryzivorus was listed as a species of special concern.
• General Context (using the common name):
  • We heard the distinctive, bubbling song of a bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in the meadow.

Advanced Usage

• The name follows the binomial nomenclature system, where the first part () is the genus and the second part () is the specific species. It is always written in italics.

Variants and Related Words

• Bobolink (n.): The universally accepted common name for .
• Ricebird (n.): A regional or historical common name for the bobolink, referring to its habit of eating grains, including rice.

Synonyms

• Bobolink: This is the direct synonym and common name.
• Ricebird: A less common synonym, used in some regions.

Noun

1. migratory American songbird