ferruginous

fer·ru·gi·nous | \ fə-ˈrü-jə-nəs

How to pronounce ferruginous (audio)

, fe- \

Definition of ferruginous

1 : of, relating to, or containing iron a ferruginous soil

2 : resembling iron rust in color

Examples of ferruginous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, which nests in the Sonoran Desert’s iconic saguaro cactus, routinely takes down prey twice its size. — Shaena Montanari, National Geographic, "Can this tiny owl survive in one of America's fastest-growing states?," 26 June 2020 During the 1980s and 1990s, wintering ferruginous and rough-legged hawks were considered fairly common on the plains of Boulder County. — The Know, "Grassland hawks driven into Boulder County by heavy snow," 4 Dec. 2019 There are likely fewer than 100 cactus ferruginous pygmy-owls left in Arizona, the zoo said. — Raquel Baier, azcentral, "4 pygmy-owls hatch at Phoenix Zoo as part of conservation program," 6 June 2019 The ferruginous pygmy owl is a regular predator of small birds, while the burrowing owl only snags birds very rarely and instead focuses its hunting efforts on insects and other arthropods. — Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, "Why Do Male Birds Take on Larger Predators? Maybe Just to Impress the Ladies," 13 Mar. 2017 Ferrets, tiger salamanders, burrowing owls and ferruginous hawks also rely on prairie dog burrows for cover. — Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, "Prairie dog towns in Colorado cover twice the acreage researchers once thought," 20 Feb. 2017 The ferruginous pygmy owl is a regular predator of small birds, while the burrowing owl only snags birds very rarely and instead focuses its hunting efforts on insects and other arthropods. — Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, "Why Do Male Birds Take on Larger Predators? Maybe Just to Impress the Ladies," 13 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ferruginous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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ferruginous hawk

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Cite this Entry

“Ferruginous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferruginous. Accessed 25 Jan. 2021.

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