grackle

noun

grack·le | \ ˈgra-kəl

How to pronounce grackle (audio)

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Definition of grackle

1 : any of a genus (Quiscalus of the family Icteridae) of large American blackbirds having iridescent black plumage

2 : any of various Asian starlings (such as the hill mynahs)

Examples of grackle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Another first state record, a great-tailed grackle, was discovered at Nelson’s Field in Plymouth on April 10. — BostonGlobe.com, "Bird sightings from Mass Audubon," 17 Apr. 2021 The grackle is the foot-long blackbird with bright yellow eyes. — Jim Gilbert, Star Tribune, "Migratory birds are staking territory, a sure sign of a Minnesota spring," 18 Mar. 2021 The great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) hails from Mexico and ranges from the southwestern United States to the northern tip of South America. — René A. Guzman, ExpressNews.com, "S.A.’s Common Critters: Grackles may be San Antonio’s most hated bird, for their noise and their poop mess," 18 Aug. 2020 While these other birds fit naturally into the birdhouse scene, the grackle and crow seem awkward in the same space. — Claire Bugos, Smithsonian Magazine, "Kerry James Marshall’s New Paintings Consider Blackness and Audubon’s Legacy," 5 Aug. 2020 Furthermore, your intrepid reporter made a rather impressive 32 on the Wonderlic despite a host of sportswriters providing play-by-play like a tree full of grackles. — Kevin Sherrington, Dallas News, "How will the Cowboys’ draft class translate to more winning? Rookies on the field, for starters.," 2 May 2020 Native Carib grackles on the island also take dry pet food and dip it in rain puddles to soften and eat it. — Asher Elbein, New York Times, "Birds That Eat Fire, Pet Food and Sugar Packets to Live Another Day," 28 Apr. 2020 Austin: The luchador grackle statue outside City Hall appears to have burned to the ground in what fire officials suspect was an act of arson. — USA TODAY, "Mormon crickets, luchador grackle, buried treasure: News from around our 50 states," 3 Mar. 2020 They have also been used further inland to ward off pigeons and grackles from locations including U.S. Bank Tower in downtown L.A., the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. — Hugo Martin, Los Angeles Times, "Calling in the ‘bird mafia’ to intimidate pesky pigeons and seagulls," 18 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grackle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

22 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Grackle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grackle. Accessed 13 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for grackle

grackle

noun

English Language Learners Definition of grackle

: a common American bird that has shiny black feathers

See the full definition for grackle in the English Language Learners Dictionary

grackle

noun

grack·le | \ ˈgra-kəl

\

Kids Definition of grackle

: a large blackbird with shiny feathers that show changeable green, purple, and bronze colors

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