Dear 'word' autocorrect...

[charlie_cochrane]

when I type grockle, I mean grockle. Do not correct it to grackle. I don't even know what grackle is.

Comments

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

A grackle is a North American bird:



They're a bit of a nuisance, like starlings.

What's a grockle?

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Something similar in that it comes in flocks and is also a bit of a nuisance.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-grockle

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

That made me laugh way too hard : ) x

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

My work here is done!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I have put out a bird-feeder for the fall and winter. I am getting purple finches-- who are not purple of course but sort of a dull brown with yellow underwear. I am also getting grackles. The picture above does not do them justice, they are so iridescent, and gloriously spotted, and I like them very much. They are not mean like the finches either.

Grackle is one of my fave words too. So pleasing in the mouth.

[plainbrownwrap.livejournal.com]

If they are spotted, then you probably actually have starlings. Sorry to disappoint! ;-)

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I need to brush up on my birds! Starlings are ok too.

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Yep. Starlings are smashing little birds.

[plainbrownwrap.livejournal.com]

In this country (US), starlings can be a serious PITA. But they *are* pretty when they have their speckledy new feathers on. And they're smart little buggers.

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Grackle sounds like something succulent you should eat at Christmas. A sort of nut/toffee thing.

I think you can call starlings grackles as well - or at least I read that somewhere yesterday.

[plainbrownwrap.livejournal.com]

No, different species -- but people do confuse them sometimes.

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

"Would you like a slice of the grackle, with caramel sauce?"

"Yes please!"

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Salted caramel sauce would be even better with grackle. :)

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

Starlings are invasive over here. They were introduced by some Victorian maniac who wanted to bring over all the birds mentioned in Shakespeare.

At the same time, other bearded wing-nuts were killing off the passenger pigeons, and the heath hens, and the buffalo etc. (I know the buffalo is not a bird, but you know what I mean. (Besides, we should be grateful it is not a bird, imagine if it perched above your car!)

It is not the fault of modern starlings of course.

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Fancy a herd of incontinent buffalo flying over your car!

It's the same here with grey squirrels. Hate the things.