crow blackbird

American  

noun

1. any of several North American grackles, especially purple grackles of the genus Quiscalus.

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crow blackbird British  

noun

1. another name for grackle

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Etymology

Origin of crow blackbird

An Americanism dating back to 1770–80

Example Sentences

I have myself seen a crow blackbird kill an English sparrow.

From Ways of Nature by Burroughs, John

The crow blackbird has all the natural cunning of his prototype, the crow.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John

But on second thought I decided that the crow blackbird did not soar and circle about in this manner.

From Birds of the Rockies by Keyser, Leander S. (Leander Sylvester)

Another visitor of whom the kingbird seemed suspicious was a purple crow blackbird, who every day passed over.

From Little Brothers of the Air by Miller, Olive Thorne

The crow fights the hawk, and the kingbird and the crow blackbird fight the crow; but neither takes any notice of the buzzard.

From Wake-Robin by Burroughs, John