black·bird
ˈblak-ˌbərd 
1
: any of various birds of which the males are largely or entirely black: such as
a
: a common thrush (Turdus merula) of Eurasia and northern Africa having an orange bill and eye rim
b
: any of several American oscine birds (family Icteridae)
2
: a Pacific islander kidnapped for use as a plantation laborer
blackbirded; blackbirding; blackbirds
: to engage in the slave trade especially in the South Pacific
Examples of blackbird in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
The wetland attracts birds, such as coots and tricolored blackbirds, and also recharges the aquifer that the roots of cottonwoods and willows tap into.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2024
Postmortem tests of grackles, blackbirds, and other birds found dead on dairy farms detected H5N1, but that didn't turn the tide.
—Amy Maxmen | Kff Health News, ABC News, 24 May 2024
Dead blackbirds and grackles on the farms, as well as barn cats, have tested positive.
—Clara Migoya, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2024
Kennedy explained the significance of her tattoo, a blackbird wearing a cowboy hat, in an Instagram Reel.
—Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Over the years, McCartney has given various answers as to what the song was written about, from being inspired by hearing the call of a blackbird while the Beatles were in India, to penning it in support of the Civil Rights Movement.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
The train hisses, someone coughs, a blackbird sings.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Elliptical wings–found in crows, blackbirds, ravens, thrushes and sparrows–are optimized for short bursts of high speed.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Noun
Pliny noted that blackbirds, partridges, jays and pigeons also eat bay leaves for digestive problems.
—Adrienne Mayor, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2024
The wetland attracts birds, such as coots and tricolored blackbirds, and also recharges the aquifer that the roots of cottonwoods and willows tap into.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2024
Postmortem tests of grackles, blackbirds, and other birds found dead on dairy farms detected H5N1, but that didn't turn the tide.
—Amy Maxmen | Kff Health News, ABC News, 24 May 2024
Dead blackbirds and grackles on the farms, as well as barn cats, have tested positive.
—Clara Migoya, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2024
Kennedy explained the significance of her tattoo, a blackbird wearing a cowboy hat, in an Instagram Reel.
—Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
Over the years, McCartney has given various answers as to what the song was written about, from being inspired by hearing the call of a blackbird while the Beatles were in India, to penning it in support of the Civil Rights Movement.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
The train hisses, someone coughs, a blackbird sings.
—James Wood, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024
Elliptical wings–found in crows, blackbirds, ravens, thrushes and sparrows–are optimized for short bursts of high speed.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blackbird.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Blackbird.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackbird. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.
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