song-sparrow

A song-sparrow perches on a garden fence and sings.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small North American sparrow (Melospiza melodia): The "song-sparrow" is a common, brown-streaked bird known for its distinctive, melodious song, often used to mark territory or attract a mate.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The song-sparrow perched on the fence and sang its cheerful tune. (A small sparrow known for its singing.)
  • We could hear the song-sparrow's clear notes echoing through the meadow. (The bird's vocalizations were audible in the natural setting.)

Advanced Usage

• "Song-sparrow's repertoire": The variety of songs a song-sparrow can produce, which may include up to 20 different patterns.
  • The male song-sparrow's repertoire is essential for defending its territory. (The bird's varied songs serve a functional purpose.)

Variants and Related Words

• Song sparrow (n): an alternative spelling without the hyphen; the same bird species.

  • The song sparrow is one of the most common backyard birds in North America. (Same bird as the song-sparrow.)

• Sparrow (n): a general term for small, seed-eating birds in the family Passeridae or Emberizidae, including the song-sparrow.

  • The house sparrow is more urban than the song-sparrow. (A different species of sparrow.)

Synonyms

• Melospiza melodia: the scientific name for the song-sparrow.
  • Melospiza melodia is the binomial nomenclature for the song-sparrow. (The bird's formal taxonomic designation.)

Related Idioms

• "Sing like a song-sparrow": to sing sweetly or melodiously (informal, poetic usage).
  • She sang like a song-sparrow, filling the room with joy. (Her singing was compared to the bird's pleasant song.)