Definition of purple grackle
: a variety (Quiscalus quiscula stonei) of the common grackle that is found mainly in the coastal eastern U.S. and is distinguished by the variable, mainly purplish or bluish iridescence of the plumage
I love to see a lone blackbird, like a purple grackle, in all his iridescent glory on my feeder, but if my backyard is covered in them, I'm glad when they move along. — Arlene Neal, The News-Topic (Lenoir, North Carolina), 30 Jan. 2013 “Purple” grackles and “bronzed” grackles trend toward those iridescent hues and formerly were considered two separate species. The purple form is found mostly along the Atlantic Coast, and the bronzed in the interior U.S. — Joe Prentice, The Daily Camera (Boulder, Colorado), 12 Oct. 2007 also : florida grackle
Comments on purple grackle
What made you want to look up purple grackle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
Do you know these earlier meanings of words?
Take the quiz - Words of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quiz - True or False?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something a...
Take the quiz - Word Winder's CrossWinder Play the game
Share purple grackle