crow-pheasant: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Specialist/Technical
Quick answer
What does “crow-pheasant” mean?
A large, ground-dwelling bird of the cuckoo family, found in South and Southeast Asia, with dark plumage and a long tail.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, ground-dwelling bird of the cuckoo family, found in South and Southeast Asia, with dark plumage and a long tail.
The term refers specifically to the Greater Coucal (Centropus sinensis), a bird known for its deep, resonant calls and association with folklore in its native regions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is equally rare in both varieties. British English, due to historical colonial links to the bird's range, may have slightly more historical usage. American English speakers are highly unlikely to encounter the term outside specialized contexts.
Connotations
No significant difference. Carries connotations of exoticism and specific zoological knowledge.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both. Almost exclusively found in ornithological texts, field guides, and regional natural history writing about Asia.
Grammar
How to Use “crow-pheasant” in a Sentence
The [adjective] crow-pheasant [verb].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crow-pheasant” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The birdwatchers hoped to crow-pheasant in the scrubland, but had no luck.
American English
- [No distinct usage; verb form is non-standard and hypothetical.]
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial use.]
American English
- [No standard adverbial use.]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjectival use.]
American English
- [No standard adjectival use.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, ornithology, and ecological studies focused on South/Southeast Asia.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Only used by birdwatchers or in regions where the bird is native.
Technical
The primary context. Used in field guides, scientific papers, and wildlife documentation.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crow-pheasant”
- Using it as a general term for any large, dark bird.
- Assuming it is related to true pheasants.
- Capitalising it as a proper noun (unless starting a sentence).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a misnomer. It is a species of coucal, which belongs to the cuckoo family (Cuculidae).
It is native to South and Southeast Asia, in habitats like grasslands, scrub, and forest edges.
The name describes its appearance: it has dark, crow-like plumage but is large and ground-dwelling like a pheasant.
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialist term used mainly in ornithology and regional natural history.
A large, ground-dwelling bird of the cuckoo family, found in South and Southeast Asia, with dark plumage and a long tail.
Crow-pheasant is usually specialist/technical in register.
Crow-pheasant: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkrəʊ ˈfɛz(ə)nt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkroʊ ˈfɛz(ə)nt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large, dark bird that looks like a cross between a CROW and a PHEASANT, but it's actually a cousin of the cuckoo.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CROW-PHEASANT IS A HYBRID: The name itself is a metaphor, combining features of two familiar birds to describe an unfamiliar one.
Practice
Quiz
What type of bird is a crow-pheasant?