blackbird

Everyday

1. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, the blackbird is a common garden bird: the male is black with an orange-yellow beak, and the female is brown. It sings beautifully. tree →
2. In North America, «blackbird» means several different birds with black feathers, like the red-winged blackbird. tree →

In the lessons

In science and nature lessons, blackbirds are seen on lawns pulling up worms and in bird-watching activities. In poems and nursery rhymes («Sing a Song of Sixpence» — «four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie») and the Beatles song. Phrases: «a blackbird's song», «red-winged blackbird».

Examples

• A blackbird pulled a worm out of the lawn. tree →
• The male blackbird has a bright orange beak. tree →
• The female blackbird is brown, not black. tree →
• We heard a blackbird singing early in the morning. tree →
• Four and twenty blackbirds were baked in a pie. tree →
• A blackbird built a nest in our hedge. tree →
• Red-winged blackbirds live in marshes in Canada. tree →
• Blackbirds eat worms, insects and berries. tree →
• This great master painter could whistle like a blackbird. tree →

Note

One word: blackbird. A «black bird» (two words) is any bird that is black, like a crow; a «blackbird» is a particular kind. Trap: female blackbirds are brown.