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Glite Dictionary
rusty grackle

rusty grackle

9.9
A blackbird with dark shiny feathers that show reddish edges in autumn
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌsti ˈɡrækl/
  • US
translation icon : grackle oxidado
  • In autumn, the plumage of the rusty grackle develops its distinctive rusty hue.

Examples

  • Birdwatchers spotted a rare rusty grackle among the blackbirds near the lake.

  • The rusty grackles are often seen near water sources.

  • A flock of rusty grackles gathered in the field at sunset.

  • I saw a rusty grackle in the park yesterday.

  • In autumn, the plumage of the rusty grackle develops its distinctive rusty hue.

  • Birdwatchers spotted a rare rusty grackle among the blackbirds near the lake.

  • A flock of rusty grackles gathered in the field at sunset.

Synonyms

grackle
vsrusty grackle
  • US
2 8.9

A large black bird with a long tail and shiny feathers

is a specific species that develops brownish edges on feathers in fall

Surface Forms

rusty grackle singular
rusty grackles plural

Morphology

rusty + grackle

The noun phrase is compositionally built: 'rusty' (reddish-brown) modifies 'grackle' (a blackbird), so the meaning — a grackle showing rust-coloured edging — is directly derivable from the constituent words. This adjective+noun naming pattern for animals is common cross-linguistically and would be immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Rusty grackle is named for the bird's look: in autumn the dark feathers get reddish-brown edges, so the blackbird, a grackle, appears rusty, which is why the name means a grackle with 'rusty' feather edges.