Zopilote

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A sizable bird found predominantly in the Americas, it is known for its scavenging behavior and plays an important role in nature by feeding on carrion
2. This bird species, characterized by dark feathers and large wings, is often observed soaring in search of food, contributing to ecological balance by consuming animal carcasses
3. A large scavenging bird native to the Americas, it plays a crucial ecological role by feeding on dead animals while being recognized for its impressive wingspan and dark plumage

Etymology: The zopilote is a vulture of the Americas, and its name comes from the Nahuatl language of central Mexico, where "tzopīlōtl" was the word for it. Spanish speakers took the word in as "zopilote" after the conquest of Mexico, and English later borrowed it from Spanish. The bird's name thus carries a trace of the Aztec-era languages in which it was first described to Europeans. The word is a good example of how New World animal names moved into European languages through Spanish. Spanish colonists encountered many plants and animals with no European equivalents and adopted local terms rather than inventing new ones, so the zopilote's name preserves the Nahuatl sound and shape almost unchanged, with the "tz" cluster softened to "z" in Spanish.

Synonyms: vulture