flycatcher
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of small, insect-eating songbird: A bird belonging to the family Tyrannidae (in the Americas) or Muscicapidae (in the Old World), known for catching flying insects in mid-air. 2. A specific large American bird: A common name for birds of the genus Tyrannus, such as the kingbird, which are notable for their aggressive insect-catching behavior.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- We spotted a flycatcher perched on the fence, darting out to catch gnats.
- The Eastern Phoebe is a common type of flycatcher in North America.
- Birdwatchers were excited to identify the rare flycatcher by its distinctive call and flight pattern.
Advanced Usage
- "Old World flycatcher": Refers specifically to birds of the family Muscicapidae, found in Europe, Asia, and Africa.
- The Spotted Flycatcher is a familiar Old World flycatcher in European gardens.
- "Tyrant flycatcher": Refers specifically to birds of the family Tyrannidae, found exclusively in the Americas.
- The Great Kiskadee is a colorful and loud tyrant flycatcher common in Central and South America.
Variants and Related Words
- Flycatching (adj., present participle): Describing the characteristic feeding behavior.
- The bird exhibited typical flycatching behavior from its perch.
Synonyms
- Insectivore (n): An animal that feeds on insects (a broader category).
- Songbird (n): A perching bird of an order (Passeriformes) that includes flycatchers (a broader category).
Related Phrases
- "Sally forth" (verb phrase): A term used in ornithology to describe the flycatcher's hunting technique of flying out from a perch to catch an insect and returning to the same spot.
- The flycatcher would sally forth repeatedly from its branch to feed.
Noun
- large American birds that characteristically catch insects on the wing
- any of a large group of small songbirds that feed on insects taken on the wing