blackbird
blackbird Lexical Profile
blackbird Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A common Eurasian songbird (Turdus merula) of the thrush family, of which the adult male has entirely black plumage and a distinctive yellow bill.
"The garden was filled with the melodious song of a blackbird perched on the highest branch of the oak tree."
North American Any of various New World birds (family Icteridae) that have predominantly black plumage, such as the red-winged blackbird or the grackle.
"A massive flock of blackbirds descended upon the marsh, their calls echoing loudly across the reeds."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term 'blackbird' refers to entirely different families of birds depending on the region; in Eurasia, it designates a thrush (Turdus merula), while in the Americas, it refers to members of the icterid family.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'blakbird', a straightforward compound of 'black' and 'bird', first recorded in the late 15th century to distinguish the black-feathered thrush from other common birds.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.