crow blackbird

American  

noun

1. any of several North American grackles, especially purple grackles of the genus Quiscalus.

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crow blackbird British  

noun

1. another name for grackle

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Etymology

Origin of crow blackbird

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Example Sentences

The crow blackbird has all the natural cunning of his prototype, the crow.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John

But on second thought I decided that the crow blackbird did not soar and circle about in this manner.

From Birds of the Rockies by Keyser, Leander S. (Leander Sylvester)

A college professor wrote me that he had seen a crow blackbird catch a small fish and fly away with it in its beak.

From Ways of Nature by Burroughs, John

Another visitor of whom the kingbird seemed suspicious was a purple crow blackbird, who every day passed over.

From Little Brothers of the Air by Miller, Olive Thorne

Looking up, they beheld a crow blackbird pausing in midair, a few feet from the window.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John