rufous

[ roo-fuhs ]

adjective

1. reddish; tinged with red; brownish red.

rufous

/ ˈruːfəs /

adjective

1. reddish-brown

Word History and Origins

Origin of rufous¹

1775–85; < Latin rūf ( us ) red ¹ + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of rufous¹

C18: from Latin rūfus

Example Sentences

There are two variants of female cuckoos: a gray morph that looks like a sparrowhawk, and a rufous morph.

From Science Daily

"Then the advantage of the rufous morph comes into play, as it is less common and has not been learned by the hosts," says Wolf.

From Science Daily

Gabriel Chaile's artwork depicts the unique nest of the Rufous Hornero bird, a national emblem of Argentina, with the bird known for building homes on high surfaces such as light poles and monuments.

From BBC

“For their body size, hands down, the most aggressive bird is the rufous hummingbird.”

From Washington Post

We rarely get the rufous in the Washington area, but we do get its cousin, the ruby-throated hummingbird.

From Washington Post