ニシブッポウソウ

Meanings

1

noun

European roller

usually written using kana alone

A migratory bird (Coracias garrulus) with blue and brown plumage, found in Europe and western Asia. In Japanese, the name is usually written in katakana.

ニシブッポウソウはヨーロッパから中ちゅう央おうアジアにかけて繁はん殖しょくする。
The European roller breeds from Europe to Central Asia.

Buddhist priest, monk

Written forms

ニシブッポウソウ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this bird name; usually written in kana.
西にし仏ぶっ法ぽう僧そう
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in specialized contexts; learners will almost always encounter the katakana form.

Etymology

The name ニシブッポウソウ literally means 'western Buddhist priest bird', likely from the resemblance of its call or plumage to the ブッポウソウ (dollarbird), which is also named after a Buddhist priest. The exact derivation is uncertain.