grackle

/ˈgrækəl/

/ˈgrækəl/

Other forms: grackles

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.

Definitions of grackle

1. noun

   long-tailed American blackbird having iridescent black plumage
   synonyms: crow blackbird

   types:

   Quiscalus quiscula, purple grackle

   eastern United States grackle

   type of:

   New World blackbird, blackbird

   any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black
2. noun

   glossy black Asiatic starling often taught to mimic speech
   synonyms: Gracula religiosa, Indian grackle, hill myna

   type of:

   mina, minah, myna, myna bird, mynah, mynah bird

   tropical Asian starlings