- grackle
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/grak"euhl/, n.1. any of several long-tailed American birds of the family Icteridae, esp. of the genus Quiscalus, having usually iridescent black plumage.2. any of several Old World birds of the family Sturnidae, esp. certain mynas.[1765-75; < NL Gracula name of genus, based on L graculus jackdaw]
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Any of several songbird species (in the family Icteridae) having iridescent black plumage and a long tail; also called crow-blackbird.Grackles use their stout, pointed bill to snap up insects, dig grubs from the soil, and kill small vertebrates, including fishes and baby birds; they can also crack hard seeds. The common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) of North America is about 12 in. (30 cm) long. The males of two Cassidus species (boat-tailed and great-tailed grackles) have a long, deeply keeled tail; these species are found in arid lands of the southwestern U.S. to Peru and in salt marshes from New Jersey to Texas, where they are locally called jackdaws. See also blackbird, mynah.Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)Thase Daniel* * *
▪ Icteridae groupingalso called Crow-blackbird,any of several species of birds belonging to the family Icteridae (order Passeriformes) that have iridescent black plumage and long tails. Grackles use their stout, pointed bills to snap up insects, dig grubs from the soil, and kill small vertebrates, including fishes and baby birds; they can also crack hard seeds. Most grackles nest in colonies; after breeding, they form large flocks and may damage crops.The common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) of North America is about 30 cm (12 inches) long. In the great-tailed and boat-tailed grackles (Cassidix mexicanus and C. major), the male has a long, deeply keeled tail: his total length may be 43 cm. These species are found in arid lands of the southwestern United States to Peru and in salt marshes from New Jersey to Texas. The latter population, locally called jackdaws, consists of a separate species (C. minor). For the grackle of southern Asia, see mynah.* * *
Universalium. 2010.