Definition

1. Noun:
   • An Asian bird species: "Sáo ngà" refers to a specific species of starling native to Southeast Asia, scientifically known as Acridotheres ginginianus. It is characterized by its ivory-colored bill and a small tuft of feathers on its forehead.
   • The cattle egret: In common and regional usage, "sáo ngà" is also a name for the cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis), a white heron often seen foraging on the backs of cattle and buffalo.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Trên cánh đồng, đàn sáo ngà đang bắt côn trùng trên lưng trâu. (In the field, a flock of cattle egrets is catching insects on the buffalo's backs.)
  • Sáo ngà có bộ lông trắng và mỏ màu vàng ngà. (The cattle egret has white plumage and an ivory-colored bill.)

Advanced Usage

• The name "sáo ngà" directly describes a physical feature: "sáo" (starling/myṇa) and "ngà" (ivory), referring to the bird's distinctive bill color.

Variants and Related Words

• Cò ruồi (n): Another common Vietnamese name for the cattle egret ().
  • Cò ruồi thường kiếm ăn gần các đàn gia súc. (Cattle egrets often forage near herds of livestock.)
• Sáo (n): A general term for mynas or starlings, a family of birds.
• Cò (n): A general term for egrets and herons.

Synonyms

• Cattle egret: The most accurate common English name for the bird most often referred to as "sáo ngà" in Vietnam.
• Asian pied starling: This could refer to the specific starling , though context usually points to the egret.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary modern reference for "sáo ngà" in Vietnamese is the cattle egret. The ornithological definition as a specific starling species is scientifically correct but less common in everyday language. The shared characteristic is the bird's behavior of associating with livestock.