grackle

American  

[grak-uhl] / ˈgræk əl /

noun

1. any of several long-tailed American birds of the family Icteridae, especially of the genus Quiscalus, having usually iridescent black plumage.

2. any of several Old World birds of the family Sturnidae, especially certain mynas.

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grackle British  

/ ˈɡrækəl /

noun

1. Also called: crow blackbird.  any American songbird of the genera Quiscalus and Cassidix, having a dark iridescent plumage: family Icteridae (American orioles)

2. any of various starlings of the genus Gracula, such as G. religiosa ( Indian grackle or hill mynah )

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Etymology

Origin of grackle

1765–75; < New Latin Gracula name of genus, based on Latin grāculus jackdaw

Explanation

A grackle is a shiny black bird that is commonly found in cities and backyards in the eastern part of North America. When grackles gather in groups, their harsh calls can sound like the electric buzzing of a power line. Grackles are larger than blackbirds and smaller than crows, with elongated beaks and legs. They appear black, but their feathers are beautifully iridescent in the sunshine, shining with blue and green. Grackles are scrappy foragers that are nearly omnivorous, and they tend to bully smaller birds away from bird feeders. Most scarecrows are actually used to frighten grackles, not crows.

Example Sentences

It may have been a grackle, a goose, or some other wild bird that infected a cow in northern Texas.

From Salon • Dec. 24, 2024

They compared the rapidly expanding great-tailed grackle with their closest relative, the boat-tailed grackle, who are not rapidly expanding their range.

From Science Daily • Sep. 20, 2023

The cardinal and grosbeak are both flying in different directions, giving them a sense of being at cross purposes with the grackle.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2020

Some 90% of the total loss came from just 12 bird families and 19 widespread bird species such as the dark-eyed junco, common grackle and house sparrows.

From Reuters • Sep. 19, 2019

Poets to men a curious sight afford; Still they will sing, though all around are bored; But this wise grackle does a kinder thing; Silent he's bored, while all around him sing!

From A Tree with a Bird in it: a symposium of contemporary american poets on being shown a pear-tree on which sat a grackle by Widdemer, Margaret