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blackbird
blackbird common name in North America of a perching bird allied to the bobolink, the meadow lark, the oriole, and the grackle and belonging to the family Icteridae. The European blackbird, Turdus merula, is a thrush. The blackbird is possibly the most numerous N America land bird. The red-winged blackbird of E North America is a familiar sight, its scarlet shoulder patches conspicuous among the tall grasses of the marshes and wet meadows where it nests. It eats grain, insects, and weed seeds. Another common species is the yellow-headed blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Except during the breeding season, blackbirds usually travel in flocks. The yellow-headed, the tricolored red-winged, and brewer blackbirds are found in the West. The rusty blackbird, glossy blue-black in summer when the brown edging of its winter feathers has worn off, winters in the United States. Many members of the family are polygamous, although the incidence of polygamous behavior varies from population to population. For example, in the brewer blackbird, the male becomes polygamous only when there are more females than males; when the balance is even, monogamy is the rule. The female blackbird usually builds the nest, which consists of a cup-shaped structure made of grasses. Flocks of blackbirds may be as large as 5 million birds, and they often do serious crop damage when foraging for food. However, the birds are invaluable because of the insects they consume. Blackbirds are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Passeriformes, family Icteridae. |
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"blackbird." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "blackbird." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-blackbir.html "blackbird." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-blackbir.html |
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Blackbird
Blackbird SR-71 a tactical and strategic reconnaissance aircraft built by Lockheed for the Central Intelligence Agency. The Blackbird was supposed to have a higher service ceiling (85,000 feet) and a greater maximum speed (Mach 3) than the U-2. It is possible that approximately fifteen A-12s were delivered to the CIA beginning in 1962, and these were used by the U.S. Air Force until the SR-71 came into use in 1964.
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"Blackbird." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Blackbird." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Blackbird.html "Blackbird." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Blackbird.html |
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blackbird
blackbird Songbird of the thrush family, common in gardens and woodland throughout most of Europe, the Near East, Australia, and New Zealand. The male has jet-black plumage and a bright orange bill. The female is brown, with a brown bill. The blackbird feeds on earthworms and other invertebrates. Length: to 25cm (10in). Species Turdus merula.
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"blackbird." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "blackbird." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-blackbird.html "blackbird." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-blackbird.html |
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blackbird
black·bird / ˈblakˌbərd/ • n. 1. a European thrush (genus Turdus) with mainly black plumage. 2. an American bird (family Icteridae) with a strong pointed bill. The male has black plumage that is iridescent or has patches of red or yellow. |
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"blackbird." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "blackbird." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-blackbird.html "blackbird." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-blackbird.html |
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blackbird
blackbird the blackbird is noted for its song; it is also the emblem of the 7th-century Irish monk St Kevin.
In the 19th century, blackbird was also a slang term for a black or Polynesian captive on a slave ship. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blackbird." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blackbird." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-blackbird.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "blackbird." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-blackbird.html |
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blackbird
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "blackbird." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "blackbird." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-blackbird.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "blackbird." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-blackbird.html |
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blackbird
blackbird
•absurd, bird, Byrd, curd, engird, gird, Heard, herd, Kurd, misheard, nerd, overheard, reheard, third, turd, undergird, undeterred, unheard, unstirred, word
•blackbird • yardbird • cage bird
•jailbird • seabird • ladybird
•dickybird • mockingbird • whirlybird
•hummingbird • nightbird • songbird
•shorebird • bluebird • lovebird
•lyrebird • bowerbird • thunderbird
•waterbird • weaverbird • Sigurd
•swineherd • cowherd • goatherd
•potsherd • catchword • password
•headword • swear word • keyword
•byword • watchword • crossword
•foreword • loanword • buzzword
•afterword
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"blackbird." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "blackbird." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-blackbird.html "blackbird." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-blackbird.html |
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