great crested flycatcher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized / Technical
Quick answer
What does “great crested flycatcher” mean?
A specific North American songbird, Myiarchus crinitus, known for its loud, wheeping call and habit of catching insects in flight.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A specific North American songbird, Myiarchus crinitus, known for its loud, wheeping call and habit of catching insects in flight.
A medium-sized migratory bird of the tyrant flycatcher family, distinguished by its bright yellow belly, gray throat, reddish-brown wings and tail, and a prominent crest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In Britain, the term refers to an American species, often described in field guides or by birdwatchers who have seen it abroad. There is no direct British equivalent species. Americans use the term for the bird native to North America.
Connotations
For British users, it connotes an exotic bird from the Americas. For Americans, especially in the Eastern US, it connotes a familiar, though not always common, summer bird.
Frequency
Much more frequent in American English, particularly in regions where the bird is found (eastern North America).
Grammar
How to Use “great crested flycatcher” in a Sentence
The great crested flycatcher [verb: nested, called, flew].We observed a great crested flycatcher.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in ornithology, biology, and ecology papers to refer to the species.
Everyday
Used by birdwatchers and in nature documentaries.
Technical
The primary context for this term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great crested flycatcher”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great crested flycatcher”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great crested flycatcher”
- Misspelling as 'great crested fly catcher' (two words for 'flycatcher').
- Confusing it with the similar-sounding 'great tit', a completely different European bird.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a North American species. It is only mentioned in the UK in the context of birding guides or by birdwatchers who have seen it elsewhere.
Primarily insects, which it catches in mid-air (aerial hawking), but it also eats berries and small fruits.
Look for its combination of a bright yellow belly, gray throat and chest, reddish-brown wings and tail, a slight crest, and its loud, wheeping call.
It is fairly common within its range in eastern North America, but its density is lower than many other songbirds, and it can be elusive despite its loud call.
A specific North American songbird, Myiarchus crinitus, known for its loud, wheeping call and habit of catching insects in flight.
Great crested flycatcher is usually specialized / technical in register.
Great crested flycatcher: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌkrɛstɪd ˈflaɪˌkætʃə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌkrɛstəd ˈflaɪˌkætʃɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird with a GREAT big CREST on its head that FLIES out to CATCH insects.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable for this type of concrete, specific noun.
Practice
Quiz
Where is the great crested flycatcher primarily found?