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Definition of xenops

xenops

/ˈziː.nɑːps/
xe · nops
Plural:xenops
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xenops Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of several small passerine birds of the genus Xenops within the ovenbird family (Furnariidae), native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America, characterized by their laterally compressed, upturned bills used to forage for insects on twigs and bark.

Example

"During our birdwatching tour in the Amazon basin, we spotted a plain xenops creeping along a thin branch in search of ants."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for xenops

• Nearby Words

xenophobic
xenophobically
xenoplastic
xenops
xenopus
xenurine
xerafin

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1811 by German zoologist Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger from Ancient Greek 'xenos' (strange) and 'ops' (face or eye), referring to the bird's distinctive and unusually shaped upturned bill.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Xenops. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/xenops
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