C1 · 50 words
Identifying birds in Spanish
Plumage, flight, voice, migration — the marks that name a bird.
El reclamo is the short contact call a bird makes to keep track of the others, and the word has two older jobs behind it. A reclamo was the caged or carved bird a hunter set out to draw wild ones in — the decoy — and from there it became the thing that draws anybody in: un reclamo publicitario is an advertising hook, and el pan de la panadería es un reclamo means the smell brings people through the door. All three are the same idea, calling something towards you. English needs « call », « decoy » and « lure » and keeps them apart.
The words
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Phrase (34)
la pluma remerathe long feather that drives the wingPhraseC1
La pluma remera estaba rota.The long feather that drives the wing was broken.
la silueta en vuelothe shape it makes in the airPhraseC1
La silueta en vuelo basta para identificarlo.The shape it makes in the air is enough to name it.
la envergadura alarthe span from wing tip to wing tipPhraseC1
La envergadura alar es de dos metros.The span from wing tip to wing tip is two metres.
el vuelo planeadothe flight held without flappingPhraseC1
El vuelo planeado ahorra energía.The flight held without flapping saves energy.
el vuelo cernidothe flight held still over one spotPhraseC1
El vuelo cernido delata al cernícalo.The flight held still over one spot gives the falcon away.
el batido de alasthe beat of the wingsPhraseC1
El batido de alas es rápido y corto.The beat of the wings is quick and short.
el canto territorialthe song that claims the groundPhraseC1
El canto territorial se oye de madrugada.The song that claims the ground is heard at first light.
la voz de alarmathe call that warns the othersPhraseC1
La voz de alarma vació el comedero.The call that warns the others emptied the feeding place.
el pico curvadothe hooked beakPhraseC1
El pico curvado indica dieta carnívora.The hooked beak means it eats meat.
la ceja clarathe pale stripe over the eyePhraseC1
La ceja clara lo distingue del otro.The pale stripe over the eye tells it from the other one.
el dimorfismo sexualthe male and female looking differentPhraseC1
El dimorfismo sexual es marcado en esta especie.The male and female looking different is marked in this species.
el ave migratoriathe bird that leaves for the seasonPhraseC1
El ave migratoria vuelve en marzo.The bird that leaves for the season comes back in March.
el ave sedentariathe bird that stays all yearPhraseC1
El ave sedentaria pasa el invierno aquí.The bird that stays all year winters here.
la migración prenupcialthe journey back towards the breeding groundPhraseC1
La migración prenupcial es más rápida.The journey back towards the breeding ground is the quicker one.
el paso migratoriothe route the birds followPhraseC1
El paso migratorio bordea la costa.The route the birds follow keeps to the coast.
la zona de invernadathe place they spend the winterPhraseC1
La zona de invernada está en el sur.The place they spend the winter is in the south.
la recuperación de una anillathe finding of a ringed bird againPhraseC1
La recuperación de una anilla llegó desde Marruecos.The finding of a ringed bird again came from Morocco.
el censo de avesthe counting of the birdsPhraseC1
El censo de aves se hace en enero.The counting of the birds is done in January.
el punto de escuchathe fixed spot where one stands and listensPhraseC1
El punto de escucha dura cinco minutos.The fixed spot where one stands and listens lasts five minutes.
el hábitat de nidificaciónthe ground it will nest inPhraseC1
El hábitat de nidificación es el cañaveral.The ground it will nest in is the reed bed.
el pollo volanderothe young bird just able to flyPhraseC1
El pollo volandero sigue pidiendo comida.The young bird just able to fly still begs for food.
el nido de barrothe nest built of mudPhraseC1
El nido de barro está bajo el alero.The nest built of mud is under the eaves.
la caja nidothe box put up to nest inPhraseC1
La caja nido se limpia en otoño.The box put up to nest in is cleaned in autumn.
el ave rapazthe bird that hunts by dayPhraseC1
El ave rapaz caza al amanecer.The bird that hunts by day hunts at first light.
la rapaz nocturnathe bird that hunts at nightPhraseC1
La rapaz nocturna vuela sin ruido.The bird that hunts at night flies without a sound.
el ave limícolathe bird that feeds on the mudPhraseC1
El ave limícola busca en el barro.The bird that feeds on the mud probes it with its bill.
el ave acuáticathe bird that lives on the waterPhraseC1
El ave acuática se concentra en el embalse.The bird that lives on the water gathers at the reservoir.
el observatorio de avesthe hide built for watchingPhraseC1
El observatorio de aves está camuflado.The hide built for watching is screened with branches.
el telescopio terrestrethe telescope used on landPhraseC1
El telescopio terrestre necesita trípode.The telescope used on land needs a tripod.
la guía de campothe book carried in the pocketPhraseC1
La guía de campo cabe en el bolsillo.The book carried in the pocket fits in one.
la especie invernantethe species that only winters herePhraseC1
La especie invernante llega en noviembre.The species that only winters here arrives in November.
la especie amenazadathe species in danger of goingPhraseC1
La especie amenazada tiene plan de recuperación.The species in danger of going has a recovery plan.
el atropello de faunathe wildlife killed on the roadPhraseC1
El atropello de fauna se registra por tramos.The wildlife killed on the road is recorded stretch by stretch.
el tendido eléctrico peligrosothe power line birds fly intoPhraseC1
El tendido eléctrico peligroso se señalizó.The power line birds fly into was marked.
Noun (m) (10)
el plumajethe feathers as a wholeNoun (m)C1
El plumaje de invierno es más apagado.The feathers as a whole are duller in winter.
el plumónthe soft feather underneathNoun (m)C1
El plumón aísla mejor que la pluma.The soft feather underneath keeps the heat in better.
el reclamothe short contact callNoun (m)C1
El reclamo es de dos notas.The short contact call is two notes.
el antifazthe dark band across the faceNoun (m)C1
El antifaz negro es inconfundible.The dark band across the face is unmistakable.
el anillamientothe putting of a ring on the legNoun (m)C1
El anillamiento permite seguir al individuo.The putting of a ring on the leg lets one bird be followed.
el transectothe fixed line walked while countingNoun (m)C1
El transecto es de un kilómetro.The fixed line walked while counting is a kilometre long.
el cañaveralthe bed of reedsNoun (m)C1
El cañaveral esconde a media docena de especies.The bed of reeds hides half a dozen species.
el comederothe place food is put outNoun (m)C1
El comedero atrae a diez especies.The place food is put out draws ten species.
el humedalthe wet ground kept as it isNoun (m)C1
El humedal está protegido por convenio.The wet ground kept as it is is protected by agreement.
los prismáticosthe binocularsNoun (m)C1
Los prismáticos son de ocho aumentos.The binoculars are eight times.
Noun (f) (6)
la mudathe changing of the feathersNoun (f)C1
La muda empieza después de criar.The changing of the feathers starts after breeding.
la coberterathe small feather that covers the baseNoun (f)C1
Las coberteras forman una banda clara.The small feathers that cover the base make a pale band.
la térmicathe column of rising warm airNoun (f)C1
La térmica sube desde la ladera sur.The column of rising warm air comes off the south slope.
la puestathe eggs laid in one goNoun (f)C1
La puesta es de cuatro huevos.The eggs laid in one go are four.
la incubaciónthe sitting on the eggsNoun (f)C1
La incubación dura veintiún días.The sitting on the eggs lasts twenty-one days.
la marismathe salt marshNoun (f)C1
La marisma se seca en verano.The salt marsh dries out in summer.
This list belongs to Nature and natural sciences — 31 lists and 1550 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
From these 50 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.